By Jack Fritz, Sports Talk Philly editor
Yesterday, in a somewhat stunning move, former Los Angeles Clipper and notorious Duke Blue Devil guard, J.J Redick, signed a monster one year deal to join the Sixers.
So after four years of national and local media jamming it down our throats that no free agent is ever going to want to play here, the Sixers got it done, inking Redick to a one year, $23 million deal.
Redick sighted that Philadelphia is where he wanted to be and the nine year vet even tweeting out "Trust the Process." So much for that "losing culture" talk.
The Sixers are the toast of the NBA and now have one of the most league pass-y and fun teams on paper in the entire league.
How does one defend a lineup of:
- Fultz
- Redick
- Covington
- Simmons
- Embiid
The season can't get here fast enough.
But the Redick signing was important for a multitude of reasons, not only on the court, but the court as well.
Let's start with on the court.
Simply put, Redick is one the three to four best shooters in the NBA. He gives the Sixers a sniper for Joel Embiid to dish to when he's double teamed, Simmons to find in transition and Markelle Fultz to find out of the pick-and-roll. Redick shot 45 percent on catch and shoot three's last season.
Hold up, read that last sentence back again.
J.J REDICK SHOT 45-PERCENT ON CATCH AND SHOOT THREE'S LAST SEASON.
He has a very low usage rate on offense and maximizes it.
Also, the gravity of Redick on the court will make everything easier for all of the young guys. Just having Redick on the court may prevent double teams on Embiid in the post. Just having Redick on the court will force guys to stick him and stay out of the driving lane for Simmons and Fultz to operate. Just having Redick on the court should finally, FINALLY allow Robert Covington to get wide open threes and not contested ones.
The attention that Redick alone will receive on a nightly makes everyone on the court's job easier and that's why I thought it was so important to add him to the roster.
Now, off the court.
Redick is the first veteran to sign here that has experience in high leverage situations. The Sixers should be a playoff team next season and when things are going well on the court, the Sixers will look unbeatable, but when things tighten up, so do young teams.
It's natural and it's part of the progression for ascending teams, but Redick should at least be able to help guide them through choppy waters.
He might never be the one that takes over the games in these tense moments but he'll know where the ball should go and ease his teammates tensions. The Sixers will rely on him in crunch-time when they're figuring out how to close ballgames.
The signing of Redick will also take the pressure off of guys like Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, Nik Stauskas, and Furkan Korkmaz to produce right away.
I love TLC as much as the next guy, but if the Sixers were serious about being contenders next season, TLC couldn't have been your starter.
The signing of Redick will allow TLC to come off the bench and serve as our "Young Manu," and the pressure to produce right away will be lifted off his shoulders. I think TLC is one year away from being ready to assume a starting role, which why signing Redick to a one year deal is even more perfect.
Let TLC continue to grow, sharpen up his game a bit more and then boom, he's good to go next season.
Both on the court and off the court, the J.J Redick signing was an important one for the Sixers.
