The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Naz Reid to a four-year, $6.1 million rookie deal, according to Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania of The Athletic. Reid's first year is the only one guaranteed in the deal.
Reid went undrafted in the recent 2019 NBA Draft but wasn't discouraged, soon signing up to play with the Timberwolves' Summer League team. The Wolves considered making him a two-way signee, but after a strong showing in Las Vegas, the 6-foot-10, 249-pound big man impressed new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, who inked him to the aforementioned deal.
The LSU standout had a couple of games that showcased his potential, putting up a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in a 90-87 win over the Miami Heat on July 10, then scoring a team-high 20 points four days later in a semifinal win against the Brooklyn Nets.
Reid averaged 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds during his lone season in Baton Rouge, helping the Tigers reach the Sweet 16 and notching SEC All-Freshman honors after the school secured the conference championship.
The board-crashing forward averaged 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds in 18.6 minutes across seven games in the Summer League, leaving the Timberwolves excited about his promise as a prospective rotation player.
Reid earned the respect of many for his hard work and unshakable belief in himself, making him one of the many encouraging stories among undrafted players.
Happy for Naz Reid in Minnesota.
Not getting drafted humbles you (especially as a 19-year old)- Reid did not dwell on it and busted his rear end during summer league. Saying that he earned a spot on the roster would be an understatement.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 18, 2019
This past season Fred VanVleet, who went undrafted out of Wichita State in 2016, crowned himself a champion with the Toronto Raptors, playing a pivotal role in the team's first-ever title in its 24 years of life. Reid can now carve the dream of his NBA career after securing a chance with the Wolves.
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