Willie Reed

The NBA has gradually moved away from players of Reed's ilk, and contracts to non-stretch fives are getting shorter and rarer. Nevertheless, with an always-excellent rebounding rate and the ability to finish around the basket, take a couple of dribbles and drop righty hooks, Reed has always been an effective one. He isn't a new-era centre, but there is still room for productive, strong and athletic paint players.

Willie Reed
C - 6’10, 220lbs - 28 years old - 5 years of experience

Reed’s ability to quite effortlessly get the ball right to the rim, be it on paint touches or after a couple of dribbles, is very useful, as are the subsequent athletic finishes. He rebounds at a good rate, and is active and athletic, with the right sort of body for the new NBA interior player. He has also shown a hint of a mid-range jump shot, as long as it is from straight away (seemingly missing absolutely every attempt from the left wing). That said, the defensive positioning is only ever sporadic, and while he can defend opposing posts, the perimeter and the internal help are less so. And despite his productivity as an occasional scorer and rebounder, the margins are not suitably big for his legal trouble of the last season to be ignored. There should be another minimum salary contract forthcoming from someone, but if Reed could develop rather than just doing the same again, that would help his candidacy.

Willie Reed
PF/C, 6’10, 220lbs, 27 years old, 2 years of experience

Had his first season in a regular NBA rotation, and did well in it. Reed rebounded well, kept the mistakes low, chased around on defence and flung himself at the basket at every opportunity, being very effective in his role. He shot 70.3% at the rim on a high number of dunks, and outperformed his minimum salary slot. So to re-sign him will mean a pay rise. The cap hold will be small, but the non-Bird exception won’t be enough, so some of the cap space or the room MLE (or the BAE if cap room isn’t pursued) may be in order.

Player Plan: Has declined his player option for the minimum to test unrestricted free agency, aiming to get above the minimum for the first time in his career. Earned more than that, too, so it’s a fair shout. Maybe a room MLE candidate, albeit ideally costing less than that.

Willie Reed - Reed signed with the Grizzlies for the last day of the 2012/13 regular season, a move which also put him on the payroll for the duration of the playoff run. Now slightly richer, he is back in the D-League with the Springfield Armor, thus far averaging 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds in 31 minutes per game. A face-up and post-up power forward with athleticism and shot blocking instincts, Reed is still raw and makes too many mistakes to be reliable, and perhaps could use another season in the D-League.