6 76ers who could get axed from Nick Nurse’s playoff rotation

2. Paul Reed

Reed has appeared in each of the 76ers' first 68 games this season. The franchise matched the three-year $23.5 million offer sheet he received as a restricted free agent last summer. The 2024-25 campaign is non-guaranteed, but the 24-year-old has locked down the backup center role and is averaging new career highs virtually across the board.

Reed played in the final 29 regular season games last season before averaging 4.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game in the playoffs. He played in all 11 contests but got fewer than nine minutes a night over the final five.

The Sixers have a new head coach and a different roster. Joel Embiid’s health will be a massive factor. Philadelphia cannot afford to ax Reed and play small the entire game no matter which team they draw in the opening round. If the reigning MVP is healthy, the 76ers could go small in the second unit and cut Paul Reed’s minutes down to zero.

Reed will start the postseason in the rotation, but he could slip out if he is struggling. His offensive game is limited, and the Philadelphia 76ers need to score points when the defense tightens in the playoffs. Could that mean Reed gets glued to the bench for a more versatile option? Anything is on the table as the Sixers attempt to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2001.