Shams: Naz Reid, T-Wolves Agree to 5-yr/$125M Extension

[MN7725]

Yea, I didn't want to go there, but you broached what I think is the most logical reason: attrition.

It worked in Denver: The Warriors super team disbanded due to injury, Jokic turned into a top 10 all-time player over a 5-year stretch, the Lakers got older. That attritional style of just going forward with the same core over and over and waiting for your rivals to fall one-by-one worked for the Nuggets.

My guess with Connelly here is he's probably thinking: "We made it to two straight conf finals, we know we can't beat the Thunder, but what if they get knocked off by the Nuggets (who we know we matchup up well against), or what if they lose one of their top guys to injury?"

The problem with that mindset is that it's completely dependent on variables outside of their control. This move would make sense is Ant was good enough to carry them. He's not. He never will be able to take the Jokic level leap. So, Connelly is left with no other choice: attrition it is.

So my question then would be, how do you get a capable PG on the roster outside of developing one? They can't afford Dennis Schroder.

Like I don't believe moving Julius Randle for Marcus Smart/Anfernee Simons (PGs) or someone like that makes them better. You're just downgrading in talent for what you hope is a good fit, I suppose. They are just going to have to force Finch to develop some more guards during the season or he's gonna get canned. Is Tyus Jones or his younger brother Tre worth kicking the tires on? Tyus was really bad in Phoenix. Would he do better with this group in Minny? Would he even accept the mininum again as he did and thus ruined his value league-wide.

In 2025-26, Rob Dillingham, Jaylen Clark and Terrance Shannon Jr need to be in the rotation all season.

The Reid signing is just kind of waving the white flag, or at least an admission that they're hoping for an injury to the Thunder or that someone else takes them out. The TWolves big men (Reid in particular) were completely embarrassed and played off the court by the OKC small ball lineup. Those OKC players aren't going anywhere. So, where exactly is the improvement? Conley's older too. Could they not find someone better than Naz that could actually be deployed against the Thunder? The goal has to be beating the Thunder.

should have traded for Kevin Durant

[HMFFL]

The contract ia fair.
He is a fan favorite and he deserves the commitment.

[doogie_hauser]

With some of these reactions to contract extentions, I seriously get the impression that many don't get how much pay scales have been rising in the NBA. This is a perfectly reasonable contract for a guy like Naz, that might flat out look great in a few years.

After the next CBA is done, Naz's contract will look like a bargain.

Why do I get the feeling some fans and posters here feel 'Jilted' that Naz is staying at the Wolves, he would be a perfect fit, if not missing piece for their team

I would take Naz at his contract over a washed up broken down Embiid and his ridiculous contract for the next 4 years and so would most rational/intelligent Hoops fans.

[doogie_hauser]

Derrick White would be perfect for Minnesota..Don't think they have any thing Boston wants or needs tbh

[Threezus]

Dang is Na that mucb better of a player over a guy like Onyeka Okongwu to get 10+ more a year than him? Or did we just get a really good deal on Okongwu on his contract? OO's contract was 4 yrs 62 mil.

Comparing a great contract (OO) to other people is weird.

OO is underpaid. He is a great contract. It doesn't make players paid more bad contracts.

Thats what i was asking if OO was a great contract or was Ried overpaid. I literally thought OO was about the right price for their level of talent lol. So im not sure how it's weird when i was legit asking the question and wanted a answer to it.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Dang is Na that mucb better of a player over a guy like Onyeka Okongwu to get 10+ more a year than him? Or did we just get a really good deal on Okongwu on his contract? OO's contract was 4 yrs 62 mil.

Comparing a great contract (OO) to other people is weird.

OO is underpaid. He is a great contract. It doesn't make players paid more bad contracts.

Thats what i was asking if OO was a great contract or was Ried overpaid. I literally thought OO was about the right price for their level of talent lol. So im not sure how it's weird when i was legit asking the question and wanted a answer to it.

Low-end starters and good 20+ MPG players get 20+ Million AAV.

[Threezus]

Okongwu is injury prone. Naz Reid is an ironman.

It's not that big of a discrepancy Naz avg's 67 games per year and Onyeka avg's 62 games per year. You acting like my man Okongwu is only out there 25 to 30 games a year

Plus Onyeka avg's more minutes per game and more games started in a year less played.

Okay, but this is where we're playing with stats a bit. Because you're including Naz's rookie year when he started on a two-way contract (and only played 30 games), it obscures the numbers:

Six seasons/Naz Reid:
20: 30 games (rookie/two-way)
21: 70 games
22: 77 games
23: 68 games
24: 82 games
25: 81 games

Five seasons/Onyeka Okongwu:
21: 50 games (rookie/lotto pick - who should be playing immediately)
22: 48 games
23: 80 games
24: 55 games
25: 74 games

Obviously, if Okongwu can play 74 a season moving forward, he's a steal for Atlanta, but how can you look at those games played and not conclude that one guy isn't more injury prone than the other?

Thats fair on the rookie 2 way thing i didn't know that wasn't from injury.

[Threezus]

Comparing a great contract (OO) to other people is weird.

OO is underpaid. He is a great contract. It doesn't make players paid more bad contracts.

Thats what i was asking if OO was a great contract or was Ried overpaid. I literally thought OO was about the right price for their level of talent lol. So im not sure how it's weird when i was legit asking the question and wanted a answer to it.

Low-end starters and good 20+ MPG players get 20+ Million AAV.

Good to know info and makes me a bit happier because now i feel Okongwu is a dang good trade chip for a team as a add in if we go after a bigger name star in the next year or 2 lol.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Thats what i was asking if OO was a great contract or was Ried overpaid. I literally thought OO was about the right price for their level of talent lol. So im not sure how it's weird when i was legit asking the question and wanted a answer to it.

Low-end starters and good 20+ MPG players get 20+ Million AAV.

Good to know info and makes me a bit happier because now i feel Okongwu is a dang good trade chip for a team as a add in if we go after a bigger name star in the next year or 2 lol.

Yeah he is a good position for ya'll to upgrade. That or get a more dynamic 2-guard but Trae/Risacher/JJ is great.

[Michaellam1987]

Very reasonable deal for Reid, and I guess he is rewarding the team that give him the very first chance, and choose to resign before exploring his value in the market.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Surprised he chose to stay in Minny. I don't see that team progressing any further.

Most teams don't progress past back-to-back WCF, so you are making a good assumption. The assumption, of course, isn't based on their level of play or how we should view their players, but instead the statistical likelihood of them making the NBA Finals, which is low, like 28 other teams currently in the NBA.

[-Luke-]

This is a good deal. My first Pavlov's dog conditioning response when such a deal is signed is still "Whoa, 25 million is a lot for player X". But that's about 8 million or so in 2010 NBA money. Reid is totally worth that and could have signed a bigger contract. Good deal for both sides.

[The Golden Fang]

What do you think he's 'worth' then? He'd be a stater on a lot of teams. A 25 year old stretch big that can come off the bench and average 15/6 and shoot the 3 at 38% on relatively high volume is incredibly valuable. You can't find these guys on the market.

Why does his age matter? His age only matters if you think his game is going to take a big leap or he is going to decline. I don't think either will happen for Reid.

As far as to what he's worth probably around 18 to 19 Mish for 4 years. 75/4 would still be a good get for him. I am also kind of interested to see what Yabusele gets now

Joel Embiid and Paul Georrge say hold my beer.

He is a lot more important to the Wolves than his stat line/output may suggest. He is a fan favourite as well as one of the most popular personalities in the playing group esp with Ant.

A couple more contracts like this and George will be viewed as a bargain.

Minnesota have to do whatever it takes to keep Ant Man happy and he is pretty tight with Reid

Of course age matters. He's in the middle of his prime so it's possible he even makes incremental improvements to his game. His salary will only be 14% of the cap next year. This is not even that big of a contract in the grand scheme of things of the cap for one of the best bench players in the league. It's a good deal right away. Not to mention in a couple of years when it'll be an even lower % and even better value.

The cap hit is $21 million this year according to sportrac.

He got paid according to his proper value.

[The Golden Fang]

Dang is Na that mucb better of a player over a guy like Onyeka Okongwu to get 10+ more a year than him? Or did we just get a really good deal on Okongwu on his contract? OO's contract was 4 yrs 62 mil.

He's better than OO. OO is an undersized center that can't shoot

[ShootersShoot]

He comes off the bench but is a starter quality player. Ive always been a proponet of having starter quality players off the bench that can play two positions, mainly due to seeing how awesome it was having that type of guy in iguodala as the 6th man for the warriors.

Minny couldve used that money on a point guard though. Perhaps they have a lot of faith in dillingham as they should giving up quite a bit for him.

[Wargreymon]

Backup big getting 25 mil a year? Inflation is real. I guess they have to overpay to keep the large markets away

[doogie_hauser]

Why does his age matter? His age only matters if you think his game is going to take a big leap or he is going to decline. I don't think either will happen for Reid.

As far as to what he's worth probably around 18 to 19 Mish for 4 years. 75/4 would still be a good get for him. I am also kind of interested to see what Yabusele gets now



A couple more contracts like this and George will be viewed as a bargain.

Minnesota have to do whatever it takes to keep Ant Man happy and he is pretty tight with Reid

Of course age matters. He's in the middle of his prime so it's possible he even makes incremental improvements to his game. His salary will only be 14% of the cap next year. This is not even that big of a contract in the grand scheme of things of the cap for one of the best bench players in the league. It's a good deal right away. Not to mention in a couple of years when it'll be an even lower % and even better value.

The cap hit is $21 million this year according to sportrac.

He got paid according to his proper value.

There is a shortage of quality big men/5's on the Market, and it's easily argued that Minnesota re,signed Reid for under market value right now

[Ball4life32]

Dang is Na that mucb better of a player over a guy like Onyeka Okongwu to get 10+ more a year than him? Or did we just get a really good deal on Okongwu on his contract? OO's contract was 4 yrs 62 mil.

He's better than OO. OO is an undersized center that can't shoot

Last 42 games OO .378 3pt on 2.3 attempts per game. He’s expanding his range.

[Pointgod]

Backup big getting 25 mil a year? Inflation is real. I guess they have to overpay to keep the large markets away

He’ll start once the move Randle

[JayMKE]

Big contract, Bobby Portis is going to want a big pay day too