The Philadelphia 76ers are set to part ways with forward-center Paul Reed as they finalize their roster for the upcoming season. This decision to waive Reed was reported by NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Reed, a former second-round pick, has quickly become a favorite among Sixers fans since being drafted in 2020. Known affectionately as ‘BBall Paul’ by NBA enthusiasts, Reed has shown great potential as a two-way player. During his time at DePaul, he put up impressive numbers, averaging 15.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.9 steals per game in the 2019-20 season. Standing at 6-foot-9 and 210 pounds, Reed led the Big East in rebounds and ranked second in blocks per game.
Despite his promising skill set, Reed found it challenging to secure minutes on the court with the Sixers. The team’s starting lineup was solidified with Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, who were logging heavy minutes. In addition, veterans Dwight Howard and Mike Scott were ahead of Reed in the rotation, with head coach Doc Rivers favoring experienced players over younger talents.
However, Reed’s perseverance paid off as he managed to carve out a role for himself in his third season with the team. With Howard and Scott no longer on the roster, Reed found himself backing up Embiid and Harris alongside Montrezl Harrell, the former Sixth Man of the Year.
Despite limited playing time, averaging just 10.9 minutes per game, Reed appeared in a career-high 69 games for the Sixers last season. His dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff and his teammates.
While the decision to waive Reed may come as a surprise to some, it is all part of the team’s strategy to finalize their roster for the upcoming season. As the Sixers make this move, fans will undoubtedly miss seeing ‘BBall Paul’ in their lineup, but they will continue to support him in his future endeavors.
