We continue our 10 part series of looking at potential draft prospects for the Philadelphia 76ers with everyone’s attention turned to the NBA Draft while the coronavirus pandemic takes its course. If you missed the past few profiles, check them out here:
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This edition focuses on DePaul big man Paul Reed who has flown under the radar despite showing off some impressive skills this season. I know what you’re all thinking, another big man? Really? Yes, really. The Sixers could definitely use some help to bolster their bench. While the starting lineup is certainly impressive, the bench has had its issues.
Paul Reed, DePaul
Reed has had some impressive games this season as he recorded eight blocked shots against Maryland on November 29 and his rise on draft boards has people keeping their eyes on him. He is even gathering comparisons to Toronto Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam who was selected 27th in the 2016 draft.
Ethan Strauss of The Athletic had this to say about Reed:
“If he’s undervalued in this draft, I can understand how it happened. Like Siakam before him, he’s now something of a skinny tweener big who can’t fit neatly into established roles and rhythms. At the college level, he’s almost miscast, asked to imitate a center’s duties while the guards handle and create. Such tweeners can be hard to count on and difficult to project. If they hit, though? A tall wing who moves seamlessly between positions and jobs is immensely valuable.”
Reed is one of those guys who can grab a rebound and then immediately lead a break. He has such a good handle of the ball that he can competently run the break and the ability to either finish it or pass off to teammates. That is the type of skill that could eventually make him a starter in the NBA if he can continue to perfect it.
Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype writes:
Statistically speaking, Reed has looked especially dominant close to the basket. According to Hoop-Math.com, the DePaul forward has connected on an insane 74.1 percent of his attempts at the rim.
That has helped him be one of the more efficient players in the NCAA. Overall, he is averaging 1.09 points per possession on offense this season. That ranks in the 89th percentile among all NCAA players, via Synergy.
But he is more than just a rim finisher and his outside shot has shown some serious improvement. Reed has also doubled his three-point attempts in each year of his collegiate career.
Then on the defensive end, he is a terrific shot-blocker and a guy who can bring a real intimidation factor at the rim that can make guys think twice and sometimes three times before trying inside against them.
Do the Sixers need shooting? Obviously, but they also have a need to improve the bench unit and a guy like Reed fills that need. He fits today’s NBA game as a guy who can play multiple positions and a guy who’s multi-skilled. It is not inconceivable that Reed can turn out to be a steal at 22 for Philadelphia. [lawrence-related id=29379,29372,29365]