Miami Heat Draft: Should they take a look at DePaul’s Paul Reed at 20?

The Miami Heat need another big on their roster who can produce. Can Paul Reed be that guy?

Strengths:

Reed show’s a lot of athleticism in his game and watching his tape, it pops off the screen. Reed does a very good job of guarding in space and is good as a help-side defender.

Reed has shown the ability to get into the passing lanes to create steals. With his 7’2″ wingspan, he blocks shots at a high clip a well, as indicated by his 2.6 per game in his final season at DePaul.

One of the most underrated parts of his game is the way he runs the floor. Reed runs the floor so smooth and clean on every fast break that watching him run is literally like watching a deer glide across your face.

I’m not sure you’ve ever seen one run in real life, but let me tell you, it’s some real smoke behind them when they do. Believe that.

Reed can put the ball on the floor at times as well and has a really good euro-step. This goes especially for someone at his size.

Reed has a high motor on the offensive glass, which he displays with putbacks and tip-ins. Watching him attack the glass reminds me of a young Taj Gibson.

Offensively, he is not a finished product but Miami could use him in the dunker spot, as they use Bam Adebayo when the ball isn’t in his hands. Reed has a good second jump as well.

What I mean by that is this. When he misses his first attempt at the rim, he tends to be the one that rebounds his own shots and as immediately as Zion Williamson does, in my opinion.

Something else that also separates Reed is his motor. He has so much energy on the court and everyone knows that the Miami Heat loves those non-stop motor kind of guys. Reed fits that bill.