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Ranking the Sixers: No. 5, J.J. Redick

Tyler King|
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: JJ Reddick #17 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during 2017-18 NBA Media Day on September 25, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: JJ Reddick #17 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during 2017-18 NBA Media Day on September 25, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

We finally get to the Philadelphia 76ers‘ starting lineup in our rankings, and J.J. Redick is the first starter to check in here at No. 5.

As a brief reminder of how this works, we here at TSS averaged rankings from 14 different staff members in order to get a composite list of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ best players, from No. 1 through No. 16.

Next is J.J. Redick, who comes in at No. 5.

Many Sixers fans and media members headed into the offseason with one big free agent target in mind –– Redick.

Sixers GM Bryan Colangelo paid above market value for Redick’s services, giving him $24 million this season, but he also kept the Sixers’ flexibility for open for next offseason.

Three-point shooting is something the Sixers have been lacking for many years, and now they have one of the best sharpshooters in the game.

Redick was immediately penciled in as the starting shooting guard and adds another level to the Sixers’ offense.

Head coach Brett Brown was probably salivating at the opportunity to open up his playbook and break out a few plays designed to get shooters open off screens. There is no better player in the league at running off screens and getting his shot off than Redick.

Redick will also give the Sixes some veteran leadership that has been lacking in recent years and valuable playoff experience. In the video above, you’ll see just what a player like Redick can provide to an offense in the playoffs. When he gets hot, he’s tough to stop and when defenses are focusing their attention on him, that opens up the other playmakers on the court like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.

Last season, Redick averaged 15 points per game and shot just under 43 percent from beyond-the-arc. It’s very realistic to see Redick put up those stats again this season and with an initiator like Simmons and a post presence like Embiid, he could be getting more open looks.

Next: 5 things to watch for as the season begins

Having Redick on the team signals the beginning of a new era in Sixers basketball. Although he  may drop in this list by the end of the season due to improvements by younger players, not by his own play, the No. 5 spot in our rankings is appropriate for the former Duke Blue Devil.