The Charlotte Hornets acquired Naz Reid from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the blockbuster LaMelo Ball trade.
During an interview with Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer, Naz Reid opened up about getting traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three future first-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks.
Reid was on a plane to the Bahamas when he found out he was getting traded to the Hornets. It was the first time the big man was traded in the NBA.
“I was on my way to the Bahamas,” Reid said. "I just checked my bags, I left the greeter service. As soon as I sit down on the plane, I get the phone call from my agent and the GM in Minnesota. And I’m looking at the phone, but I already knew what it was about, you know what I’m saying? So, at that time I was going to get off the plane and try to figure stuff out.
“At that point, I’m with my family. I’m like, ‘Bro, I’m just going to go enjoy family time with them. And then when I get back, handle business from there.’ The initial phone call from my agent a couple days before, it was a little shocking. But it’s a business, and it’s kind of how it goes.”
Next season will be the first time in his NBA career that Reid will be a starter. It will be fascinating to see how the 26-year-old performs in head coach Charles Lee's system.
Reid won the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year award. He enters next season with career averages of 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in the regular season and 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in the playoffs.
For Minnesota this past season, Reid averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, 36.2% from beyond the arc and 73.2% from the free-throw line. He recorded six double-doubles.
Reid will make $23,275,862 next season. Multiple teams have tried to acquire him from the Hornets, but Charlotte is keeping the talented power forward.
The Hornets are expected to start Coby White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabaté next season. That's a strong starting five on paper.
“Yeah, I think togetherness is huge,” Reid said, “kind of being together and enjoying some of that off time together and dinners together. Sometimes guys on the team like to golf and all that type of stuff. It’s continuity, just bringing that time together and just kind of sharing expressions and learning about each other. “So that way, once you get on the court, you know what you’re fighting for and how you’re fighting, and why you’re fighting. Yeah, continuity is big, big, big, big. And I think that’s something that they embrace as well in Charlotte.”
