The Sixer Sense
Fansided

J.J. Redick could be perfect mentor for Nik Stauskas

By Tyler King

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 16: J.J. Redick #4 and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers wait on the court during their game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on March 16, 2016 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 16: J.J. Redick #4 and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers wait on the court during their game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on March 16, 2016 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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J.J. Redick has proven to be a consummate pro and could be an excellent mentor for the young wing players on the Philadelphia 76ers‘ roster.

Over the past few seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers had not been labeled as a particularly attractive destination for veteran free agents.

Now, despite finishing with 28 wins and the fourth worst record in the league, the Sixers have now proven to be a free agent destination for veterans with the additions of Redick and Amir Johnson.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers appear to have one of the brightest futures in the league, with most of that due to the play of Joel Embiid last season and the team’s impressive 10-5 record in January. But the team will also have the No. 1 picks from the last two drafts, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, taking the court this season.

Young talent, along with a chance to make more than market value, was the main reason the Sixers were able to nab a prominent free agent such as Redick this offseason.

Redick will be more than a starter and a large contributor on offense for the Sixers.

Sure, Redick will bring elite perimeter shooting that will enhance the team’s offensive capabilities and will likely help the Sixers win more games this season, but all free agent moves signings like this have value off the basketball court as well as on.

Coming off his 11th season in the league, Redick has been through a lot throughout his NBA career, and has experienced many highs and lows.

During the early parts of his career, Redick had a taste of success with the Magic, particularly in 2009 when the team reached the finals.

Redick was a big contributor for that team and got his first real taste of the playoffs, starting half of the team’s postseason games and averaging just over 20 minutes per game.

After Dwight Howard brought the Magic down with him during his exit from the team, Redick was eventually traded to Milwaukee for half a season before signing with the Clippers in the offseason.

It was in Los Angeles where Redick became a full-time starter for the first time in his career.

Over the course of his four years in Los Angeles, Redick was apart of a team that greatly underachieved and missed its window to win a championship. The core of Redick, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan was one of the best teams in the Western Conference for several years, but failed to make one conference championship.

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On that Clippers team, all of the main players around Redick were the same age as him or close to him in age.

But on this Sixers team, Redick and Amir Johnson are the lone veterans on the team, giving him a brand new responsibility.

Redick’s partners on the wing include Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Furkan Korkmaz the player often compared to Redick, Nik Stauskas.

For the young European wings, Redick could provide plenty of knowledge about getting shots off in traffic and running off screens.

But with Stauskas, Redick could use his previous experiences as a college sharpshooter drafted in the lottery to help guide Stauskas and help him grow as a player.

The first three seasons to Stauskas’ career have been similar from a statistical standpoint and it is what Stauskas believers are using to hold out hope he can become a starter in this league.

Redick experienced his fair share of criticism in the early parts of his career, similar to what Stauskas has gone through in Philly.

Stauskas has had to play a lot of minutes during his first two seasons with the Sixers due to the lack of talent on the team, and it may have hurt his development.

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But now with Stauskas likely getting less minutes in a more limited role, he could learn from Redick and develop into a starting caliber shooting guard when Redick eventually is no longer with the team.