The injury, the premature end of the season and the absence of Naz Reid during the playoffs hurt Wolves since the pivot had a very good season with 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds on average at 54% shooting success, in just 18 minutes.
His energy and his dunks off the bench have often brought a second wind to Minnesota. So that, free this summer, it stands out as a “priority” for Wolves, as Chris Finch points out.
“We want to be a franchise that rewards players who do things well,” announces for his part the president Tim Connelly for the Star Tribune. “He came here in good shape, improved year after year and we cross our fingers that he will be with us for a long time. We will work hard to find a long-term solution for Naz. »
Will he want to be a holder elsewhere?
Except Reid can’t hope for a starting position in Minnesota. Rudy Gobert is there, as well as Karl-Anthony Towns. It is obvious that, to become a starter, he will have to leave Minnesota.
To retain him, despite this handicap of playing time, the leaders of Wolves have a strong argument, in addition to sporting ambitions: money. Naz Reid, who was only making $1.9 million this season, will he be able to get a big contract among the teams that will have financial space this summer?
Perhaps and without doubt he will be able to aim for a “mid-level exception”, set at 10.3 million this season, with good teams. Wolves will be able, thanks to “Bird Rights”, to go higher and even exceed their “salary cap” to keep it. Will they want it? That’s another question…
– salary cap : this is the payroll defined by the NBA. NBA franchises have the ability to override it when extending their own players or through “exceptions.”
– Larry BirdException : rule that allows any franchise to exceed the salary cap when extending one of its players. The Wizards or the Hornets can therefore explode their payroll by extending Bradley Beal or Miles Bridges.
– Mid-level exception : envelope of 10.3 million dollars available to recruit all NBA franchises that do not pay luxury tax. They can use it on one or more players. A team that has to pay the luxury tax only has 6.5 million.
| Naz Reid | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | MIN | 30 | 17 | 41.2 | 33.0 | 69.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 9.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 70 | 19 | 52.3 | 35.1 | 69.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 11.2 |
| 2021-22 | MIN | 77 | 16 | 48.9 | 34.3 | 76.5 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 8.3 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 68 | 18 | 53.7 | 34.6 | 67.7 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 11.5 |
| Total | 245 | 18 | 50.5 | 34.4 | 71.1 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 10.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
