Brooklyn Nets: Examining a potential Willie Reed return
By Leo Mar
In a not so surprising move, Willie Reed opted out of his contract with Miami. Should the Brooklyn Nets revisit the situation and sign him as a two-way player?
The saddest thing in life is wasted talent. These were the words of a movie father played by the legendary Robert De Niro in “A Bronx Tale.” Truer words have never been spoken. “You could have all the talent in the world, but if you do the wrong thing then nothing happens. But, if you’ve got talent and do things right, guess what? Good things happen.”
No matter the generation, this is the case for many atheletes that have the talent; however, cannot seem to make the right decisions. Always too focused on what they think they deserve or being misguided by their associates.
Yet, if they are only able to stop thinking in that manner, and focus on the people who are in positions of higher authority that only want to help them grow. Help them develop their talent, whatever talent that may be; to the next level.
Such is the case for a former Brooklyn Net, and probably very soon former NBA player, William Reed.
Mr.Reed grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and played his high school ball in Bishop Miege High school. During his time there he was able to turn into a three star prospect according to 247 sports. Three stars and a rating of 84, which when explained, transforms into the player given that grade being of the top 10% players in the nation.
People believed in this kid from small town Kansas City. They saw the potential in his game. So much so that he was able to gain a full scholarship to St.Louis University.
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He played for the Billikens for two years starting in 2008 until he “chose” to leave in 2010. he was a blossoming NBA caliber player. Getting better every year. In the 2008-09 season he had averaged 7.7 PPG and 1.3 BPG while grabbing 4.6 RPG. In 2009-10 season he upped his game to 12.4 PPG, 2.1 BPG and 7.9 RPG. Even though that was in mid-major basketball it’s still proof that he had some thing. As the notorious BIG once said sky’s the limit.
Or at least it should had been. On May 1, 2010, at around three in the Morning. A young, unidentified woman was found wandering the St.Louis campus. Hysterically in tears. She had given her testimony that she had allegedly been raped by three men in one of the university’s dorm rooms. One of those men was allegedly Willie Reed.
Because of this allegation, Willie Reed was suspended for the next season of Billikens basketball. His name now tarnished. With the potential to be a Second round pick, he squandered it by keeping company who would put him in improper situations.
After he had gotten suspended, he had attempted to change schools with no avail. He entered the 2011 NBA draft, going from potential second round pick to undrafted free agent. He signed with CB Sant Josep of Spain. A Spanish team, however that never amounted to anything as that club was forced to shut down to to a large debt.
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After many stints in the D-league that included time with the Springfield Armor, Reno Bighorns and the Grand-Rapids Drive. Things finally started to click for him in 2015 as he took home All-NBA D-League First Team honors, NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team honors and NBA D-League All-Star. All firsts.
Did something finally click? Did he discover that he was only few more games before becoming another statistic? Lucky for him while playing for the Miami Heats 2015 summer league team, Billy King; with no more assetts to trade offered him a $500,000 NBA contract. Reed happily accepted.
A few weeks away from the opening of the 2015-16 NBA season Reed gets hurt in a preseason game against the Celtics, missing the next two months. Making his NBA debut on December 4, 2015 playing 11 minutes and scoring eight points. He would only eclipse that one other time in a Brooklyn uniform, scoring 12 points in a January 22 contest against the Jazz. In typical Reed fashion, after not getting the minutes he felt he deserved, Reed abruptly left the Nets for “personal reasons”.
On July 13, 2016, Reed signed with the rebuilding Miami Heat. Working with the world class staff that player development guru Pat Riley assembled, Reed made gigantic strides in his game. The highlight of his season saw the big man go off for 22 points and 18 rebounds in a January game. Shortly after, he went for 22 points again. making the Heat look like they cracked the unbreakable code.
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Fast forward to June 1, 2017 when he informs the Heat that he’s opting out of his contract. Again in true Willie Reed fashion. This was his last shot. Miami didn’t play chase with Dwayne Wade and they sure as hell won’t play it with a headcase like Reed.
This isn’t Billy kings Brooklyn. This Brooklyn regime is building a team with zero egos and clean characters.
Clean character is something Reed lacks.