No matter what this free agency holds, one critical decision has been made for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Naz Reid has a wide open market with any team of his choosing. It was unpredictable if he would decide to stay and rebuild the Wolves with Anthony Edwards or be the first option elsewhere. Maybe the new owner, Alex Rodriguez’s influence worked. Because Reid has reportedly come to a decision.

The news comes from Shams Charania. Naz Reid’s agent reportedly declined a $15 million player option for next season. That means he’s staying at the Minnesota Timberwolves for the foreseeable future.

Reid is a very sought-after free agent throughout the league. He was getting similar options elsewhere with the added guarantee of a starting role. The Wolves are looking at him as one of the key figures in rebuilding the franchise after the $1.5 billion transition from Glen Taylor to A-Rod and his business partner, Marc Lore.

As per Shams, Reid is likely to sign a new five-year contract with the Wolves. This is going to get him a 9-figure payday – approximately $125 million. There is reportedly a player option at the end of this deal, too.

Minnesota fans were ecstatic that the former Sixth Man of the Year would stay in the city where he began his career. He is, after all, the longest tenured player on their roster. Reid averaged a career-high 14.2 points per game last season but stood out as the perfect complement to Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Moreover, he is one of just three NBA players over the last three seasons to score 2,000 points off the bench. The very guy draft scouts passed over!

You can see why A-Rod was keen on keeping him around. And if he stays, what does that mean for another player?

Alex Rodriguez wants to keep Anthony Edwards’ Squad

Since making the franchise sale official, Alex Rodriguez got to work. Rod confirmed that Anthony Edwards will be the face of the franchise. But they made it very clear that he won’t be alone.

“We’re thinking about how to build long-term franchise value and win championships, right? And I think we all agree that Ant is an incredibly special player. And he could argue not even into his prime yet. And so we’ve got uh we’ve got some time but a but it is not a long time, you know, if we’re really going to step up and go all the way,” Marc Lore said on behalf of himself and A-Rod.

The new co-owners proceeded to lay out a strategy of using the free agency and future draft picks to be ready for Ant’s prime. When he said it, Reid’s status was still up in the air, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker entered free agency. The Wolves were $12 million below the second apron with some space to improve roster depth.

With Reid’s decision, the front office can get to the drawing board to distribute cap space. Reid’s deal would reportedly start at $21.55 million for 2025-26 (if it contained the maximum 8% annual raises). Analysts predict the Wolves’ focus on the core could impact Luka Garza if they decline his $2.4 million team option. That would give the team $39 million remaining below the second apron to pay Julius Randle and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

That also depends on Randle, who the team is eager to keep. If he opts into his $30.9 million deal for 2025-26, the team would only have $8 million below the second apron. There is, of course, the other possibility that the Wolves exceed the threshold when they sign Randle and Walker. Either way, the job’s not done for A-Rod.