After an explosive draft filled with trades and surprises, the Sixers went big by selecting Paul Reed at pick number 58. Here’s all you need to know.
At 6’9, 220 lbs, Reed is a prototypical modern-day big. He’s not ‘big’ by definition, but the DePaul power forward is certainly big in upside.
Reed averaged a double-double during his junior season at DePaul, which is beyond impressive. Tallying of 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, he shot 51.6 percent overall and 30.8 percent from three-point range. You’ll notice a trend with all of the Sixers’ moves tonight. It’s a word that begins in S and ends in S, with ‘hooters’ in-between.
Reed ranked in the 73rd percentile of shooters last season and his 3-point percentage stood at .330 by the time his college career came to an end. He may not be the freakiest athlete or most intimidating defender, but he can finish well at the rim and more importantly for this Sixers team, space the floor.
The team will need as many interior options who can freeze defenders in their tracks and draw their gaze off the bench if they are to truly get the most out of reserve shooters. Seth Curry and Danny Green could well be used on a small lineup at times and this could well be an area we see Reed deployed, as someone that can go up and snag the rebounds (averaging 10.7 per game last year), while keeping defenders honest.
Defensively, he’s long, but not a tenacious defender. There is clearly room for development, although he can defend numerous positions on the floor, with a growing versatility card being the hidden key in a new ‘positionless’ team that could see Ben Simmons used in that hybrid ‘point forward’ role.
Paul Reed isn’t as polished as many of the other guys in this class, but was projected to go early in the second round. If Rivers can take time to develop his shooting and help him become more efficient on both ends, reducing turnovers and allowing him the freedom to dominate inside while allowing a newly assembled group of wing players to thrive in years to come, this could well be a steal.
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