**DETROIT** — Charlotte Hornets forward Naz Reid was benched for the entire second half Wednesday night after failing to meet the organization's standards, a mysterious collection of requirements that apparently exists somewhere inside Charles Lee's head.
Reid scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in 13 minutes against Detroit before being informed at halftime that his evening was over.
“Unfortunately, Naz didn't meet our standards in the first half,” Lee explained afterward, adding that he expected Reid to meet those standards in the next game.
He declined to specify what the standards actually were.
The decision has reportedly left the Hornets scrambling to determine whether the standards involve defense, effort, punctuality, or knowing the secret password to the locker room.
Reid, who arrived in Charlotte through the offseason trade that sent LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, is now expected to correct unspecified mistakes without being told what they were.
The Hornets were leading 51–44 when Reid was benched.
Without him, they were outscored 53–38 and lost 97–89.
Apparently, the other players were meeting Charlotte's standards perfectly.
Team officials have reportedly considered distributing a handbook explaining the organization's expectations, but abandoned the idea after realizing that writing them down would make them considerably easier to understand.
Meanwhile, the former Sixth Man of the Year must prepare for his next appearance knowing that any possession could violate a rule that hasn't been revealed.
The Hornets remain committed to accountability.
What anyone is being held accountable for remains confidential.
