A former LSU Tiger is on the move in the NBA via a trade.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Naz Reid was shipped on Thursday morning to the Charlotte Hornets less than 24 hours after the 2026 NBA Draft concluded. Shams Charania was the one who broke the news on the move.
In the trade, Minnesota paired Reid with a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033) in exchange for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.
The 6’9″, 264 lb big man out of LSU recently finished his seventh season in the association, all with the Timberwolves. Reid was more often than not coming off the bench as Minnesota’s 6th man. He was a stretch big man for them, another player who could shoot the ball from behind the arc. Over the last three seasons, Reid has attempted at least five three-pointers per game and recorded a 38.6 shooting percentage from downtown.
Since the 2023-24 season, the 26-year-old has averaged 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and .9 blocks off the bench. Reid also missed eight games during that time. He posted similar stats in his lone year with the LSU Tigers before going undrafted in 2019 and eventually signing with the Timberwolves.
What Minnesota will be getting in return is an excellent offensive playmaking point guard in LaMelo Ball. The 24-year-old finished up his sixth NBA season, all in Charlotte. He will now be a part of a dynamic backcourt duo that stars shooting guard Anthony Edwards.
After winning Rookie of the Year in the 2020-21 season and being named to the All-Rookie Team, Ball has averaged at least 20 points per game and accumulated a rather large highlight reel of flashy plays on offense, both in scoring and passing. Green is a backup guard who will provide depth for the Wolves after the team lost guard Donte DiVincenzo to a ruptured right Achilles tendon during their playoff run in late April.
