The Denver Nuggets have waived Julian Reese, less than two weeks after acquiring him from the Washington Wizards in a five-team sign-and-trade. It is a quick turn of events, but it also means the forward is suddenly available again, and his best skill is obvious: he can crash the offensive glass.
That matters because Reese has already shown he can impact games in different settings. At Maryland, he averaged 2.7 rebounds per game across four years and finished second in program history with 1,015 total rebounds. In the G League, he averaged 2.9 offensive rebounds in 19.1 minutes, a reminder that his work around the rim has long been part of his profile.
Why Reese stands out
Reese's most attractive trait is his appetite for extra possessions. In his combined G League season, he averaged 7.72 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, and that kind of production is hard to ignore for teams that need toughness and second-chance scoring.
That is why the New York Knicks feel like a natural fit. They lost Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti in free agency, have signed Andre Drummond, and may still want more help on the offensive glass. If that is the need, Reese gives a frontcourt a different look.
A track record of production
Reese has also flashed real scoring and rebounding upside when given the chance. During his rookie season with Washington, he averaged 11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals. In only his third NBA game, he posted 18 points and 20 rebounds against Utah.
Three weeks later, he went even bigger, scoring 26 points and grabbing 17 rebounds on 12-of-16 shooting as Washington beat Utah, 133-110. Those numbers do not guarantee a long-term NBA role, but they do show what he can do when a game suits his strengths.
The question now is where that profile lands next. Reese has been waived, but that does not mean the story ends there. For a team looking for effort, rebounding and frontcourt energy, he has at least made a case worth considering.
