The Sixers Tell Utah To “Get Off My Lawn”. Match Paul Reed’s Offer Sheet
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 03: Paul Reed #44 of the Philadelphia 76ers defends a shot from Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 03, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Sixers fans rejoiced late Sunday night as Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the team would match the offer sheet that Paul Reed signed with the Jazz. Reed, a restricted free agent, signed a 3 year, $24 million dollar offer sheet with the Jazz on Saturday. The Sixers matching was not a forgone conclusion because the signing forces them over the luxury tax. But luxury tax be damned!
On the surface, non Sixers fans might be wondering why fans were clamoring for the team to match a contract for a guy who’s averaged 3.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and .6 BPG. But you can not judge Paul Reed on his career stats because it was really this past season that saw Reed really step into the rotation. Reed averaged 4.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and .7 PPG. But as a starter he averaged 13.5 PPG, and 9 RPG. The former G-League MVP is still just 24 years old and has gone from late second round pick, to now a key rotational player.
The interesting part about the deal is the structure of the deal. Utah’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had the first year of the deal guaranteed. But the second and third year would only be guaranteed if the team won a playoff series. For the Sixers, where that franchise is, that seems to be a given. For Utah, a rebuilding franchise, it was far from a certainty. Daryl Morey didnt seem to care.
Now the negative here is the fact that the Sixers have a ton of backup bigs. The Sixers announced the signing of Mo Bamba over the weekend, and they also brought back forward Montrezl Harrell. So Reid now joins a crowded front court. But many, including our own Bob Cooney, think Reed is perfect for Nick Nurse’s system. The Sixers clearly agree or else they would have let him walk.
The Sixers and president Daryl Morey still have a lot of work to do this off-season. Figuring out what to do with James Harden is at the forefront.
6 Left-Field Options For The Phillies At The Trade Deadline
The trade deadline is just a little under a month away. This season it falls on August 1st. Meaning we are only a couple of weeks away from when the Hot Stove really heats up and we start seeing the trades fly. And given where the Phillies are, they should certainly be involved in those talks.
But what is it they need most? We did talk about the specific needs last week. At that point, you would have thought a 5th starter would be a pretty big one. But Christopher Sanchez continues to excel in that role. As long as he is pitching like this, there is no real reason to make a move there. Especially when they still hope one of the young guys could contribute at some point too.
They could also use another relief pitcher. It’s not a pressing need. The main guys in the bullpen are killing it for them right now. But it never hurts to add an extra arm to pitch in those middle innings.
What their biggest need seems to be is another power bat. Outside of Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, they are not getting much power from anyone else. Bryce Harper is in the longest power drought of his life. You hope he snaps out of it. But that is not a sure thing. So another bat that can get the ball out of the park would certainly be of use. And with the plan being for Bryce Harper to eventually play 1st base, and for Kyle Schwarber to move to DH, that power bat likely needs to be a left fielder.
Who could they target there? Are there names no one is talking about who would be the perfect fit?
Let’s look at some of the options the Phillies could have at the Trade Deadline to acquire a left fielder.
Pat is Philly through and through, having grown up in the Oxford Circle of Northeast Philadelphia. He attended Cardinal Dougherty High School, and it was at CD that a teacher suggested he should pursue a career in sports radio. He worked his way up the ranks and joined the morning show in June of 2020. As a content creator for 97.5 The Fanatic he writes about Eagles, Sixers, Phillies and Flyers. Follow Pat on Twitter @Pat_Egan
