It doesn’t look like free agent center Willie Reed will be back with the Miami Heat next season.
After a strong season with the Miami Heat, Willie Reed is up for a raise, and multiple teams have expressed interest in the 27-year-old center, according to hoopshype’s Alex Kennedy.
In addition to the Heat, the Pacers, 76ers and Rockets have expressed interest in unrestricted FA Willie Reed, according to league sources.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2017
Indiana, Philadelphia and Houston are interested (though, since then, the Rockets signed P.J. Tucker using their exception).
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Reed averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game for the Heat last season. He came off the bench behind Hassan Whiteside and played good defense, giving Miami two centers who could protect and roll to the rim.
It doesn’t look like Reed will be playing in Miami next season. The team is prioritizing Gordon Hayward, and its other free agents James Johnson and Dion Waiters. The Heat also drafted a center, Bam Adebayo, with the 14th pick in the NBA Draft.
Miami could sign Reed using their cap exception, but if he’s drawing interest from other teams he may be priced out of the exception range.
Next: 5 free agent replacements for Willie Reed
A team signing Reed would be getting a solid rim protector and screen setter, who can roll hard to the rim. He’s also a good leaper and dunker. Even as the market for high-priced centers dries up, cheaper centers who can control the paint are a valuable service. Reed should get a substantial raise this summer, even if he’s not in South Beach next season.