The Lakers are unlikely to pursue Naz Reid -- the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year -- in upcoming free agency, with a sign-and-trade being their only potential option.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been searching for a big man, but after the trade for Mark Williams was rescinded, they never quite got their ideal target. Instead, they settled for signing center Alex Len -- a short-term solution rather than a long-term move.
With this in mind, Jovan Buha of The Athletic was asked whether Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid could be an option for the Lakers, given that he is reportedly set to hit free agency this summer. However, Buha dismissed the idea.
"I never want to say never, but the Lakers are not going to be a cap space team," Buha said on his podcast. "There is a scenario in which they could maybe open up the non-taxpayer MLE, depending on what happens. But even then, Naz's gonna make 20+ million.
"They're not gonna be a cap space team this summer. Naz Reed is not going to really be an option," he added. "Now, could they make a signing trade? That could be an option. So I guess that's where I'll leave the door open for that possibility, but in terms of outright signing him, they don't have a path to do that.
"That's realistic unless LeBron retires, but then we're having a totally different conversation," Buha concluded the topic.
This season, the 25-year-old Reid -- the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year -- is averaging 14.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the Timberwolves, who currently hold a 32-27 record as the seventh seed in the West.
Reid went undrafted in 2019 but quickly found a home in Minnesota, where he has played ever since.
In June 2023, he signed a three-year, $42 million contract extension, which includes a $15 million player option for the 2025-26 season -- an option he may now choose to decline.
