Sixers: Ranking each member of the young core

Ranking the Sixers’ young core — 6. Paul Reed

There’s a strong argument to place Paul Reed higher than this, and it pains me to rank him so low. That said, this ranking is focused on the player’s future in Philadelphia. For Reed, even if he’s on track to become a successful NBA player, his position in the Sixers’ future plans is still somewhat obscure.

Reed’s best NBA position is center, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. He can play power forward, yes, but the best use of his skill set — both offensively and defensively — is at center. Reed needs to be in the middle of the floor making plays.

On defense, he’s a chaos magnet, generating turnovers and blocked shots at a prodigious rate by sheer force of will. He can switch, defend in space, bang down low — it doesn’t really matter, Reed will get the job done. On offense, Reed is much less prodigious, but the skill level is still evident. He can hit spot-up 3s, run the floor like a gazelle, and do some impressive things driving downhill. He has all the talent to succeed in the NBA.

Unfortunately, the Sixers’ future at center is wholly invested in Joel Embiid right now. Reed’s ceiling with this team for the next half-decade is backup center, barring some absurd and unforeseen offensive growth. He can play the four in some lineups, but probably not next to Embiid. That’s just too clunky, especially if Reed can’t lean more wholeheartedly into the role player aspects of his game. That is why Reed falls to No. 6, even if he deserves better.