Hornets coach Charles Lee pulled starter Naz Reid from the lineup for the entire second half in Wednesday’s Detroit loss, according to Roderick Boone.
“He didn’t meet our standards in the first half,” Lee explained. “We decided at halftime he would sit out the remainder, and we expect him to bounce back next game.”
Lee didn’t detail the criteria, but Boone heard it involved something the veteran big man said. In my view, the lack of clarity only fuels speculation. Both men spoke after the game and appear ready to move forward.
Reid came from Minnesota this summer as part of the LaMelo Ball deal. He’s now entering the second year of a five‑year, $125 million contract.
Below is additional Southeast coverage.
- The Hornets sent sophomore wing Kon Knueppel to their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, on Thursday for practice, the team announced on Twitter. The former Rookie of the Year runner‑up, sidelined by a hamstring strain last fall, could be gearing up for his season debut.
- Hawks rookie guard Kingston Flemings exploded against Miami, dropping 23 points on 9‑of‑12 shooting, along with five assists, five rebounds, a steal and a block in 28 minutes, Gabriel Burns reported. He said he’s still adjusting to NBA speed and staying in attack mode, and after a modest 2‑point, 5‑assist outing versus Cleveland, Atlanta rebounded with a win. Will Flemings cement himself as a core piece for the Hawks this season?