It’s a good thing that the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to get Naz Reid to agree on a new extension. Because the Detroit Pistons were reportedly looking to make a serious push at luring away the talented forward if he tested free agency.
“Sources say that the Pistons were prepared to make the necessary moves to create the financial flexibility needed to make a competitive offer to Minnesota’s Naz Reid,” NBA insider Jake Fischer revealed in a new Stein Line column on Saturday.
On Friday night, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news that Reid was actually declining his $15 million option for next season. But not to test the open market. Instead, he and the Timberwolves had agreed on a new five-year deal worth $125 million. Taking him out of play for the Pistons.
Naz Reid stats (2024-25): 14.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 BPG, 38% 3PT
minnesota timberwolves
Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The move surprised some around the NBA. While only a few teams around the league have a bunch of available cap space, the Sixth Man of the Year was still expected to have a healthy market for his services. And those interested team likely would have offered a starting role.
Detroit likely would have been one of those teams as they slotted him into the power forward spot. And moved Tobias Harris to the bench. The Pistons have the second-most available cap space this summer. However, as Fischer mentioned, they could make moves to free up more cap space.
They certainly would have been a threat to land his services as a team on a major upward swing.
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After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos