Essentially, Reid’s deal means the Wolves can likely retain either Randle or Alexander-Walker and stay below the second apron, but not both. Connelly said staying under that $207.8 million threshold was the goal.
“We have some limitations financially. We want to make sure that we avoid that second apron,” Connelly said after the draft Thursday. “But we’re really excited about the direction of our team. We’re excited that the guys who are free all want to come back.”
Reid was also a potential target of other teams, but just like two years ago he is opting to stay in Minnesota even if it means he will come off the bench again behind Randle and Gobert.
The duration of the deal means Reid’s contract lines up with that of Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. While Reid entered the league a year earlier than they did, the trio cut their teeth in the NBA together, have grown up together in the league and now will be playing some of the prime years of their careers together after already leading the Wolves to consecutive appearances in the Western Conference finals.
The move to re-sign Reid became possible after the Wolves traded Towns last season to New York for Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. The Wolves saved money in that trade for the long term in shedding Towns’ supermax deal that will potentially pay him $61 million in the 2027-28 season. It provided the long-term room for the Wolves to re-sign Reid, even if Randle opts into his deal.
Reid’s new deal is a signal for both the short and long view of the Wolves franchise. He is a significant part of the young core the franchise envisions being competitive as Edwards enters the peak years of his career. Meanwhile, the Wolves want to keep intact as much of the team that went to the conference finals last season. Even if they lose Alexander-Walker in free agency, the Wolves are confident in players such as Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark to fill the gap in the rotation beyond the top seven of Gobert, Randle, McDaniels, Edwards, Mike Conley, DiVincenzo and Reid.
