In each of my previous three mocks, I’ve had the Heat taking a point guard to help offset Goran Dragic becoming a free agent, but I’ll give them Paul Reed here, who can be a playmaking four right away for Miami.
I’m higher on Reed than most and find myself more and more impressed by his defensive tape each time I return to his highlights. He averaged nearly three blocks per game as a junior, recording a sub-90 defensive rating.
He’s a smart defender more than anything else and doesn’t chase blocks. He uses perfect timing to offset his less-than-ideal athleticism to protect the rim and clean the glass.
Despite not taking many in college, Reed does have a solid three that can make him a dangerous stretch-four one day. Most of his buckets until then will come from his ability to finish lobs off pick and roll opportunities.