Former LSU basketball star included in blockbuster trade

Even in the offseason, the NBA still finds ways to make headlines and Thursday morning a former LSU basketball great was part of a blockbuster trade.

Naz Reid, an ex-LSU forward, was included in a bombshell trade in which the Charlotte Hornets dealt franchise point guard LaMelo Ball, along with Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Reid and a handful of draft picks. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Hornets are expected to receive a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three second-round picks (2029, 2032, and 2033), and also the right to swap first-round picks with Charlotte in 2028, ’29, and ’30.

While LSU certainly has bigger names in the NFL, MLB, and WNBA, Reid is representing the men’s basketball program in the NBA exceptionally well. Despite going undrafted following his 2019 freshman season in Baton Rouge, Reid has made a name for himself in Minnesota, primarily off the bench. He won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year during the 2023-24 season, averaging 13 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from three. Reid has finished in the top five in Sixth Man of the Year voting the past two seasons.

Through seven seasons in the NBA, Reid has earned $54 million in his career. Last summer, Reid signed a five-year $125 million deal with Minnesota that includes a player option worth $28 million ahead of the 2029-2030 season.

For his career, Reid is averaging about 12 points and five rebounds while being one of the better stretch-fives in the NBA (a career 37 percent shooter from three). At LSU, Reid was the Tigers‘ second leading scorer (13.6 points per game) and best rebounder (7.7 rebounds per game) on the 2019 team that won the SEC regular season championship and made it to the Sweet 16. Reid played in 34 games with 32 starts and earned Freshman All-SEC honors.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Former LSU basketball star included in blockbuster trade