Philadelphia 76ers: Josh Richardson isn’t being talked about enough

He’s not Jimmy Butler, but Josh Richardson will fit snuggly in the Philadelphia 76ers’ rotation.

The Philadelphia 76ers traded Jimmy Butler over the summer, shipping the All-Star to Miami in exchange for Josh Richardson. Presumably, the Sixers didn’t want to trade Butler. But he wanted a new situation and a new city, which left Elton Brand to figure out the next move.

In a vacuum, Richardson doesn’t compare to Butler. Even Jimmy Buckets’ muted regular season production outshined that of Richardson, who spent last season as Miami’s No. 1 option. But when putting each in context of team, Richardson provides more than enough to lessen the sting of losing Butler.

At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Richardson now sits as Philadelphia’s smallest starter. He’s going to have similar duties to Butler as a result — starting on the defensive end. Brett Brown will turn to Richardson to defend opposing point guards.

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The Sixers are aiming to overwhelm opponents with length and versatility. Richardson will help as someone who thrives on the perimeter. He’s a more engaged regular season defender than Butler, and might even provide an upgrade at the point of attack.

Using his gaping wingspan, Richardson can recover against quicker, more explosive lead guards. He swallows up driving lanes with a high success rate and has earned fringe All-Defense chatter as a result.

In 2020, it’s fair to peg Richardson’s defense on par with Butler’s defense. The Sixers aren’t losing much there — some might even argue there’s a net positive. At 25, Richardson also fits the timeline better than Butler. Al Horford is the new old head.

On offense, it’s murkier. Butler is a genuine top-15 talent, so there’s an inevitable downside to losing his services. The Sixers aren’t better off, at least not in the short term. But even so, Richardson should provide a clean fit while filling the void Butler left.

As Miami’s top threat last season, Richardson averaged a career-high 4.1 assists per game. He showcased ample feel in the pick-and-roll and dribble handoffs, two actions Brown is bound to rely on next season.

The postseason showed how valuable pick-and-rolls are to Philadelphia’s offense. Joel Embiid, Al Horford and Ben Simmons are all dynamic roll men with varying strengths. Even Tobias Harris can function as a deadly pick-and-pop threat.

Brown will have the luxury of mixing and matching different pairs and triads, with each providing unique benefits. Richardson has the skill set to coexist and thrive next to every member of the starting five. An Embiid-Richardson two-man game — even with the vast differences in comparison to Butler and J.J. Redick — should prove highly effective.

One knock on Richardson’s 2018-19 season was efficiency. As the Heat moved him to a higher-usage role, Richardson’s shooting percentages dropped. In Philadelphia, he will share the court with four All-Star talents. Brown also promotes ball movement and a more egalitarian system, even though Embiid will inevitably get his touches.

The Sixers can place Richardson in the right spots without requiring the massive burden of consistent shot creation. He can work the in-between game, hit spot-up 3s and cut to the rim. Expect his efficiency to improve in a complementary role.

His shooting is also worth noting. Butler was a reluctant 3-point shooter despite the Sixers’ need for spacers. Richardson attempted 6.3 deep balls per contest last season, hitting at a 35.7 percent clip. He will get clean looks in a Philadelphia offense designed to pressure defenses inside.

While Richardson lacks the natural talent of, say, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, his potential impact has become profoundly underrated. A top-notch defender against high-octane point guards is important. His ability to relieve the playmaking burden on Simmons — especially in the postseason — is also integral to Philadelphia’s success.

Richardson will provide the do-it-all, 3-and-D talents Philadelphia needs to complement its star-studded, jumbo-sized rotation. He’s also on contract through 2021, on the precipice of his prime and a notoriously hard worker. There’s a lot to like about his fit.