Philadelphia 76ers: 5 options for pick No. 24 in 2019 NBA Draft
By Derek Hryn
3. Naz Reid
If the Sixers choose to go “younger” with the No. 24 pick, then Naz Reid could be an excellent developmental project.
The LSU freshman helped garnish his maligned team’s tournament aspirations, and accelerate them at least further than most anticipated. He averaged 12.3 points and served as the Tigers’ premier glass man with 7.6 rebounds a night before falling to Michigan State in the Sweet 16.
Reid’s draft appeal is comparable to that of Julius Randle‘s in 2014 after a one-and-done campaign at Kentucky, or that of Clint Capela, who wasn’t as highly regarded in the same year, being drafted by the Houston Rockets with pick No. 25. Both of them are double-double mavens and have league-wide merit due their formidable size and versatility for the NBA’s current small-ball lineups.
The Sixers have yet to find a clear backup center for Joel Embiid, not that they haven’t tried. Going the veteran route with Amir Johnson and Greg Monroe didn’t work. Acquiring a younger yet unproven center in Justin Patton via trade was interesting, but didn’t work. Gaining the height advantage with Boban Marjanovic worked, but inconsistently. And moving Jonah Bolden from power forward to center out of sheer desperation didn’t work either.
Perhaps it’s time for the Sixers to resolve their frontcourt hitch through the draft once again, snagging someone who can occupy either the 4 or 5-spot.
Reid’s imposing 6’10”, 255 pound stature would allow him to do so. A widely proclaimed “man among boys” earlier in his basketball endeavors, he should have no issue tangling with any of the league’s best in the post. Similar to Embiid, he is not a world-class perimeter shooter by any means. But his 33.3 percent shooting from outside last season is encouraging, and definitely something to build on. Also similar to Embiid, his motor and conditioning can be a liability at times.