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When the Phoenix Suns drafted Davon Reed with the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, many fans and even national media scratched their heads.
Local media, on the other hand, especially John Gambadoro, knew the Suns were all over Reed.
They liked him from day one. They needed a backup shooter. He was always their target. Don't look at mock drafts, they don't matter.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 23, 2017
Reed was ranked by DraftExpress.com as the 62nd best prospect overall, though they had him slotted at 54th in their final mock draft as they got wind he was moving up the draft boards of a few teams.
He is a long-armed defender the Suns needed on the wing to back up Devin Booker while making 39% of his three-pointers for his career and showing NBA range on many of his shots.
Reed, 22 years old, played all four years at Miami and now becomes “middle aged” for his first NBA season as only the 7th youngest guy on the Suns roster.
The Suns absolutely loved Reed when he worked out with them. Our own Evan Sidery picked up on a comment from the Suns front office here.
Davon Reed, the Suns pick at 32, is a 6'5 G/F with a 7' wingspan. During his workout, Reed was handling point guard duties in 3-on-3.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 23, 2017
Not sure how Reed becomes a point guard, but the “point” here is that Reed is a willing passer and heady player who can the right plays at the right time, and we all know every NBA team needs more of those players.
Here is a DraftExpress.com video on Reed as a sleeper pick.
You can see that he lumbers a bit for a 6’6” guy (7’0” wingspan) but he makes all the right plays and keeps within himself.
This is what Aran Smith of NBADraft.net wrote on Reed in May.
If I were Reed I would do everything in my power to make Jared Dudley my vet and then listen to every and anything he wants to share about staying in the NBA. The path to a 10-plus year career in the league is laid out in front of him and if he puts the work in then he’ll be a rotational piece for years to come.
Hey there, Jared Dudley!
Maybe new teammate Dudley can show Reed how to succeed and even excel in the NBA as a role player.
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On one hand, that’s a great compliment to Reed that he could be compared to a veteran like Dudley who transformed himself over his 10-year NBA career from a decorated college power forward (Boston College) to a backup swing forward to a starting shooting guard and team-best perimeter defender to a new-NBA starting power forward to wily-vet-off-the-bench backup swing forward.
On the other hand, Dudley beat the odds with his career trajectory and Reed would be hard-pressed to match it.
Here’s more from Aran Smith at NBADraft.net on Reed.
Reed is the true definition of a swingman … He has the size (6’6” and 206 lbs) and length (7’0 wingspan) to play either the two or the three spots in the NBA … Uses his length effectively in his game … Very versatile player … Jack of all trades type … Will fit right into the league as a 3-and-D type of player … Consistent shooter from outside … Comfortable taking shots from the NBA range already … Is also a good athlete … Both laterally and vertically … Gives his all on defensive end … Takes matchups head on … Can guard multiple positions … Will do the little things as well … All about hustle and effort
I am rooting for Reed, who will join Josh Jackson on the Summer League squad next month.
Fellow second round pick Alec Peters (foot) and second-year guard Tyler Ulis (ankle) are rehabbing and won’t make SL, but I’m hoping JJ and Reed are joined by Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender on the summer squad.
Watch more highlights of Reed here.