The Philadelphia 76ers’ decision to retain him in his restricted free agency case this offseason can’t be more delightful for Paul Reed.
Reed admitted in his appearance on “The John Kincade Show” that he wasn’t able to imagine being in the Utah Jazz. Nevertheless, he took the team’s offer sheet given the business side of the game.
“I’m glad they was able to match the offer. … That’s not a place that I had in mind, but business is business,” he said, via Ky Carlin of USA TODAY.
The Jazz handed a three-year, $23MM offer sheet to the big man. A day later, Philly decided to match it, but the contract holds an interesting provision wherein the last two years ($15.7MM) will only get guaranteed if the club manages to reach the Conference Semis next 2023-24 season.
Reed, who has been stapled as the primary backup big for reigning MVP Joel Embiid, averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 69 regular-season games. He also expressed his excitement and optimism about his offseason targets with new coach Nick Nurse.
“The goal this offseason is to keep developing and keep finding ways to get better,” he said. “I know I got an opportunity this year to play a little 4. Especially, with Nick Nurse. Just working on stretching the floor, driving out the corners, just little things like that.”
