New Charlotte Hornets big man Naz Reid rose nine spots in ESPN's NBA player rankings for the 2026-27 season.
New Charlotte Hornets big man Naz Reid rose nine spots in ESPN's NBA player rankings for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Reid was ranked No. 90 last season. He's ranked No. 81 for the 2026-27 campaign.
Charlotte acquired Reid from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the blockbuster LaMelo Ball trade.
Reid won the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year award. He enters next season with regular-season averages of 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game and playoff averages of 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
For Minnesota last 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 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.
During an interview with Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer, Reid opened up about getting traded to the Hornets. The forward was on a plane to the Bahamas when he found out he was being traded from Minnesota to Charlotte.
“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.”
The Hornets open the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets.
The home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks.
