Paul Reed has begun to make his way out of the mud and secured a G-League MVP and giving hope to his NBA future with the Sixers.
While Tyrese Maxey and Isaiah Joe each have deservingly received their praise after performing in their limited opportunities this season, there remains a more mysterious feel to the man who goes by Bball Paul.
The Sixers selected Paul Reed with the 58th pick in the draft after a three-year career at DePaul. After getting in seven games with the Sixers this season and playing just 64 total minutes, the Sixers elected to send Reed to the G-League bubble in order to get some extra reps and more consistent playing time.
Paul Reed on the Blue Coats
The decision to send Reed to the Delaware Blue Coats has proven to be a success as Reed flourished in the opportunity for more minutes. The 6’9 forward was the only player in the G-league to average over 20 points and 11 rebounds. In total, he tallied 12 double-doubles in the 15 games he played in.
In his time in the G-league bubble, Paul Reed averaged 22.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks. He also shot an impressive 58.8% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the three-point arc. He was the only player in the top 10 for rebounds with at least 20 three-pointers made and was one of three players across the league with multiple 30 point games.
This improvement in his three-point shot has been a major point of emphasis for Reed as he shot just 30.8% from deep in his final season at DePaul. The power forward set his goal to shoot 45% from three and credit Blue Coats’ head coach Connor Johnson for helping to build his confidence in his stroke.
This opportunity in the G-League was a chance to get a full look at Reed’s intriguing skillset. His unique combination of athleticism, versatility, and exciting potential should start to find a place in the Sixers’ long-term plan.
Ending third in the league in scoring while also becoming the only player in the league with 25+ blocks and 25+ steals speaks volumes to his overall impact on the game. Paul Reed is the first Delaware Blue Coat to be given these accolades as he was officially crowned MVP and Rookie of the Year of the G-League.
Reed’s Contract
Similar to what was done with Shake Milton when he first was drafted, Paul Reed agreed to a two-way contract with the Sixers to start his career. This allowed Reed to remain available to the Sixers while still having a chance to showcase his skills and improve his game with more minutes on the Blue Coats.
Each NBA team is allowed to dish out 2 two-way contracts per year, and players are eligible as long as they are in the fourth year or less in the league. Traditionally, two-way players are not allowed to spend more than 45 days with their NBA squad, but the rules have become more lenient on that for this year due to the impact of Covid and the health and safety protocols that go along with it.
However, Paul Reed may not be on a two-way for much longer as it has been reported that the Sixers are expected to convert the deal into a “real” NBA contract in the near future. This is great news for both Reed and the team as he has shown to have sky-high potential that the organization is excited about.
By locking Reed into a contract now, it also gives the Sixers a chance to secure him for the long-term at what may turn out to be a bargain of a price. This is exactly what happened with Shake Milton’s contract, as Shake is the 14th highest player on the Sixers roster this season. Shake vastly outproduces this price tag and is also under contract for two more seasons after this year, and securing Reed on a similar deal could prove very beneficial to the franchise.
While Shake is certainly more polished at this point in his career, it is fair to hope that Paul Reed could have just as big of an impact for the Sixers down the line. Already outperforming early expectations, Paul Reed may be out the mud sooner than anyone would have guessed.
