3 camp battles to watch: Backup center
The backup center battle in camp is maybe the most interesting one to follow for two main reasons. First, we’ve never seen any of the three players in the running — Georges Niang, Andre Drummond, and Paul Reed — play significant minutes for the Sixers. Second, the three competitors all have wildly different skill sets, which means the look of the team’s second unit could be hugely dependent on the outcome of this race.
Niang joined the Sixers on a two-year, $6.7 million contract this offseason from the Utah Jazz. His best skill is his spot-up shooting — Niang knocked down 42.5 percent of his threes last season on over four attempts per game while shooting off the catch at an impressive 44.4 percent clip. If the Sixers do want to try to push the pace and space the floor when their bench unit enters the game, Niang would be the best fit.
Drummond is the center on the roster most able to replicate Dwight Howard’s contributions from last season. He’s an elite rebounder and an imposing force in the paint, but beyond that, Drummond doesn’t offer much. Defensively, he always seems to underperform, and Drummond’s total lack of scoring or shooting ability makes it tough to see him winning out. However, we know Doc loves veterans, so there’s a chance the team uses Drummond to spell Joel Embiid.
Reed is probably the most exciting option at backup center. Entering his sophomore season after winning a G-League MVP award and dominating summer league, Reed has all the tools that Sixers’ president of basketball operations Daryl Morey could ask for in a big man. He has shooting ability, a serviceable handle, and plenty of defensive intensity. Though “BBall Paul” might still be rough around the edges, he has the most upside of any backup center contestants.
During the year, it won’t be surprising if Embiid’s replacement varies depending on the situation — for example, Niang might be used to spell Joel against small-ball lineups while Drummond and Reed get opportunities against more traditional bigs. It will still be interesting, though, to see who wins this camp battle and enters the year as the primary backup.