Paul Reed – Philadelphia 76ers
Throughout his three seasons in Philadelphia, Paul Reed has somewhat become a fan favorite for the franchise. Now, the 24-year-old will hit restricted free agency, meaning the team can match any offer made to him by opposing teams. The Philadelphia 76ers should take advantage of that, as it would be tough to lose him.
After playing a key role in Philadelphia’s playoff run, Paul should be a prime candidate to take on the full-time duties as the team’s backup center next season. He played 10.9 minutes per game this past season, which was a career-high, but he could see an even larger role next year if he is back with the 76ers. While his numbers may not be the gaudiest, Paul can provide quality defense and rebounding off of the bench when Joel Embiid needs a breather.
As highlighted in this article by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey (Subscription required), Paul has an interest in sticking around with the 76ers. Philadelphia should be the same. While it’s unclear how much the big man could get on the open market, he likely will not be out of the 76ers’ price range. Unless a team with loads of cap space offers a monstrous offer, it’s not controversial to say that Philadelphia’s front office should aim to keep Paul around as the main backup center.