Why the J.J. Redick signing may not have been as brilliant as originally forecast
Despite the on-court fit and short term contract, signing J.J. Redick may have been a poor decision for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Let’s get this on the record before you head to the comments section: there’s a lot to like about both free agency signings the Philadelphia 76ers have made thus far, especially the J.J. Redick deal.
However, before signings these deals off as both wins, we need to consider why they may not work out as perfectly as we plan for them to.
Philadelphia 76ers
In particular, I’d like to zero in on J.J. Redick here. This move has widely been hailed a slam-dunk, not only by 76ers fans, but by most outsiders also.
SB Nation had Redick as their top shooting guard in free agency, and at 15 points per game on 44.5 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three point, you can hardly go wrong, especially given the deal is only one year long.
Redick is entering his 13th year in the NBA, and at age 32, has seen more than enough in his time in the League to provide a good role model for younger Philly players. But those younger players are exactly where this problem lies.
The Sixers already have three young shooting guards on their roster – Justin Anderson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Nik Stauskas – who will all be competing for time next year, and that’s without including Turkish teen Furkan Korkmaz.
Anderson impressed upon his move to Philadelphia last year in an increased role. Averaging 21.6 minutes per night, the 23 year old managed 8.5 points per game on 46.6 percent shooting, with 4 rebounds per night thrown in for good measure.
Whilst his three point shooting needs to improve, his strong field goal and free throw shooting shows that he has the form, and the 76ers’ shooting staff can help him add some distance to his shot.
Nik Stauskas, also 23, will be entering in fourth year in the professionals, and has shown plenty to build on over his pro seasons thus far. He upped his putout to 9.5 points per game on 39.6 percent shooting and 36.8 percent three point shooting, all career highs.
Stauskas also has a big frame, at 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, and showed some nice athleticism and aggressiveness in attacking the rim last season, something his game did not previously feature.
Whilst Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot did not get much of a chance to play earlier in the year, he saw a lot of his minutes come towards the end of his rookie campaign, and managed a stout 6.4 ppg in 17.2 minutes per night.
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Luwawu-Cabarrot also showed impressive athleticism and length, giving reason to believe he is an above=the-rim prospect with high defensive potential.
This is all without touching on Furkan Korkmaz, the teenager who has set the Turkish BSL ablaze, after also winning a FIBA Champions League Best Young Player award.
The 19 year old has drawn comparisons to a taller, more explosive Manu Ginobili. At 6-foot-8, and with excellent three point shooting ability, Korkmaz has every chance to make an impact immediately, albeit sporadically.
Korkmaz has every chance to be Philly’s best long-term prospect at the positio0n, but where he fits into this minutes jigsaw is unknown. Unfortunately, he may even have to spend time in the G-League next season.
Both Anderson and ‘TLC’ have the ability to play the small forward position also, which should ease some tension, but with Ben Simmons and Robert Covington logging minutes there, it’s not going to be any easier.
Redick will likely help the Sixers win more games than any of the players mentioned above. He’s also a valuable trade chip come the trade deadline.
Next: How J.J. Redick fits the Sixers' roster
If Brett Brown can effectively work out fair minutes scheduling next season, this could be a brilliant addition. If not, I will be one of many disappointed to see Redick taking up the time of Philadelphia’s girth of young wing talent.