Philadelphia 76ers: Is Paul Reed NBA ready?

Paul Reed has taken no time to cement his status as the underground favorite in Philadelphia — a quirky, exciting talent who has exploded into the G-League MVP conversation. For fans dedicated enough to consume Blue Coat games on ESPNews, Reed has supplied no shortage of excitement. He looks better than anyone could have rightfully hoped.

The reigning 58th overall pick has led Delaware to the G-League Finals, which will air on Thursday, March 11 at 4:30 PM E.T. He’s averaging 22.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game for the Blue Coats, outshining even his fellow NBA talents in Isaiah Joe and Rayjon Tucker.

It appears that Philadelphia struck gold in the second round.

It would be difficult for the Philadelphia 76ers to ignore Paul Reed’s productivity in the G-League Bubble.

Soon, the G-League season will conclude and Reed will rejoin the Sixers. Upon his return to Philadelphia, it is fair to wonder whether the 21-year-old will get a crack at playing time. He has certainly looked the part in Orlando. His skill set fits rather well with the Sixers’ current frontcourt, and new NBA rules would allow Reed to play all the way through the postseason, even if he stays on a two-way contract.

Now, it’s unlikely Reed will elevate to the level of postseason rotation piece in 2021. That’s too high a bar to set. In five games with the real squad this season, Reed has averaged 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game. He has shot just 40.9 percent from the floor in that span, and missed all of his 3-point attempts.

With Delaware, however, Reed’s impressive scoring numbers have come on 58.8 percent shooting, converting a remarkable 44.4 percent of his 3-point attempts (of which he is averaging 3.6 per game). Reed has filled the role of small-ball center well, galloping the floor in transition and popping effectively to the 3-point line. That is the type of player the Sixers would do well to pair with Ben Simmons whenever Joel Embiid sits.

Also of note is Reed’s wide-ranging presence on defense, where his lengthy wingspan and switch-friendly profile have paid massive dividends for Delaware. He can move on the perimeter, muck up passing lanes, and generate turnovers. He is a source of havoc, and would again fit the more mobile units built around Simmons.

It may be too much to expect Reed to contribute this season, but he is quickly becoming a real part of the Sixers’ future — a prospect about whom fans should harbor genuine excitement. He was foul-prone in his brief NBA foray earlier this season, but as Reed gets more comfortable against professional competition, his versatility could shine through.

Dwight Howard will not stick around forever, and even now he’s a limited option behind Embiid. The Sixers fandom has been clamoring for a stretch five all season. There are better short-term solutions — P.J. Tucker, Nemanja Bjelica, what have you — but Reed is lingering in the shadows, perhaps closer than we thought to filling that very role.

The Sixers have had plenty of success in the second round recently. Reed could follow in the footsteps of Shake Milton.