Re-drafting the 2020 NBA Draft — 22. Paul Reed, Denver Nuggets
Not many players have shot up the board like Paul Reed, who dominated the G-League as a rookie and is fresh off the second 20-20 game in Summer League history. There’s a level of uncertainty here, as Reed hasn’t yet done anything in the NBA, but the talent is abundant. He’s probably most comfortable at power forward, and it’s hard to think up a better center to accompany him than Nikola Jokic.
The main selling point with Reed is defense, where he can absolutely wreak havoc. At 6-foot-9, he’s a real energizer bunny, flying into passing lanes, pickpocketing along the perimeter, blocking shots at the rim — you name it. His ability to generate turnovers and throw offenses out of rhythm is his No. 1 attribute.
Reed has a long way to go offensively, but the flashes have been pretty remarkable. He can hit pick-and-pop 3s, and his comfort level putting the ball on the floor is rare for 6-foot-9 bigs fresh out of college. He swallows offensive rebounds and, for better or worse, is unafraid to explore just how far his skill set extends. The Nuggets are a good place for him to grow into his full powers.