Can Carl Landry Continue To Contribute?

Acquired in a trade with Sacramento Kings as a salary dump, Carl Landry is playing on par with his rookie season. Can he continue to contribute?

Carl Landry is the veteran NBA player on a young man roster, an NBA player whose career has had as much life in the NBA as a third of the Sixer’s roster combined. An eight year veteran who remains prepared, so prepared that he can switch from being a bench player for five straight games, but suddenly find himself on the basketball court playing a relief role, to now where he has doubled his average playing time from 9.3 minutes in the month of February 2016 to 18.5 minutes in March 2016.

It’s all a numbers game.

But without playing time, proficiency fades. Somehow, that is not the case for power forward Carl Landry, who has somehow found a way to remain highly competitive and prepared as he awaits his opportunity. He had one such chance on March 20 in a game against the Boston Celtics, where he exploded for a season high 26 points on 10-18 shooting from the floor and going 6-6 from the foul line. The last time he scored that much was a 30 point game on April 10, 2010, where he rained 30 points down upon the Dallas Mavericks as a Houston Rocket.

Carl Landry has somehow discovered his fountain of youth in Philly. His 53.6% shooting from the floor is among the team leaders. It’s particularly impressive in light of his sporadic playing time.

Carl Landry 16 P (6-11) / 5 R. In each of last 5 games he's played at least 12 minutes, he's scored at least 10 P.
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) March 20, 2016

When he first arrived, this was a humble man who did not despair in the news of joining the rebuilding basketball team in Philadelphia. In fact, he relished it:

"“I’ve played almost 40 playoffs game, probably played more playoff and regular-season games than the whole team combined. I’m not going to lead them in the wrong direction. I’m going to continue to be a professional. That’s what got me to this point today. Hopefully with that, I can help this ball club out as well as myself along the way.”"

Leading he has, mainly by example of someone who doesn’t bend the coach’s ear to get more playing time, but by keeping himself physically and mentally prepared. Then, when he has the opportunity to contribute, he does, in a surprisingly positive way.

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This is not the first time Carl Landry has been on a roster of president and general manager Sam Hinkie’s team. They both spent time together at Houston.

"“I was in Houston when we drafted him and it seems like a lifetime ago for the both of us. We talked a lot about this situation and that it’s different than people might perceive it and how we’re going to need his voice. That doesn’t take away from his game — I think he’ll be able to play fine.” – Sam Hinkie discussing Carl Landry"

To hear Hinkie talk, Nik Stauskas was not the only player the Sixers insisted upon in the trade with the Sacramento Kings. He understood that the Philadelphia 76ers were a young team and needed the voice of a veteran on the roster. He has grown to trust Carl Landry, and shown as much when he kept him on the roster despite being at the depths of a complete roster overhaul. So far, Landry has performed well in the role of “relief pitcher”.

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While the Sixers are closing out the season auditioning for next year’s campaign, Carl Landry is a curious player. His resurgence with the Philadelphia 76ers may have restored him to the radar of play-off hopeful teams next year looking for spot production in the front court. His ability to blend and thrive as a veteran on a young team may have reassured potential free agents that Philly is an ideal place to jump start an NBA veteran career. But most of all, his willingness to be ready whenever head coach Brett Brown needs him may have earned him a spot on next year’s roster.

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Despite the glut of talent on the projected 2016-2017 roster next season, there is always the risk of injury and misfortune. The entire roster next season is an equation with fifteen variables. Carl Landry is a known player, and his production is a constant. There should certainly be a spot on the team for his services next season. Solving any equation means limiting the variables. For the Philadelphia 76ers, that means it will be easier to learn what the team has if the keep players who are already established and known.

"“This is a team where the sky is the limit,” Landry said. “I played right away when I was a rookie and there are a lot of players here that can be effective and compete in the Eastern Conference and you never know. … I’m definitely excited about being a part of this and being a leader.”"

If it came down to a vote, I would vote in favor of retaining Carl Landry. He not only has been to the playoffs, he believes that this team has the stuff to get there.