Heading into this offseason, there was a massive dilemma on the Minnesota Timberwolves' hands when it came to determining who were going to be the pieces on this roster that should stick around for the long haul. But now that some crucial decisions have been made, it should be more obvious than ever just how important Naz Reid is in the eyes of Wolves management.
The Timberwolves' coaching staff and its front office decision-makers are far from naïve. They understood that given the tax aprons and the way finances are structured in the NBA, simply trading away Karl-Anthony Towns was not going to solve all of their money-related issues. They were going to have to come to a decision on which player contracts they were okay with absorbing relative to that players' value, and which they felt comfortable cutting loose.
Of course, the big men on the roster represented a large portion of this conversation. Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid all of course log heavy minutes in Minnesota's frontcourt, and all play a big role in helping the Wolves be the superpower they have become in the Western Conference.
The issue is never about talent level when it comes to these things. If all three of these guys were playing on one million dollar contracts, they'd all be re-signed instantaneously without a hint of a second thought. The problem is their collective hit to the team's payroll.
Naz Reid is unquestionably seen as a core piece of Minnesota's roster
Rudy Gobert is set to earn $109.5 million over the course of the next three seasons. At the start of the current offseason, that by itself was a difficult burden to bear from the perspective of the team's decision-makers. Then you have to think about whether you want to re-sign Randle and Reid, who were both up for extensions.
After plenty of speculation, what we ended up with was a three-year, $100 million deal for Randle and a stunning five-year, $125 million extension for Reid. Handing out both of these contracts makes a definitive statement, but especially concerning Naz Reid.
This type of long-term contract extension shows that Minnesota is all-in on Naz, and makes it obvious that they see him as a big part of their future plans. Just a few short months ago, many thought he might end up being the odd man out, given how many other bidders were inquiring about him around the league.
Instead, the Timberwolves fan favorite is back in the Twin Cities through at least the end of the 2028-29 season, with a player option for 2029-30. Wolves fans have every reason to rejoice, as there are now no real questions left about Naz Reid's future in Minnesota. Number 11 is here to stay.