Comparative shopping
Not much. Now keep in mind, I am not including such honorary signings as that of Elton Brand. And I also understand the need for veteran presence. But in signing free agents, I enlist two thresholds: did players produce at or better than their career averages? Secondly, did the Philadelphia 76ers overpay for the production of that player?
Let’s examine career averages:
PG Sergio Rodriguez (Phi – 7.8 PPG, 5.1 APG, 39.2 FG% / avg 4.9 PPG, 3.4 APG, 40.9 FG%)
SG Gerald Henderson (Phi – 9.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 42.4 FG% / avg 11.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 44.0 FG%)
Guard Jerryd Bayless (Phi- 9.4 PPG, 1.6 APG, 41.2 FG% / avg 8.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 41.4 FG%)
SG J.J. Redick (Phi – 16.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 38.7 3PT% / avg 12.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 41.3 3PT%)
PF Amir Johnson (Phi – 4.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 51.4 FG% / avg 7.4 PPG, 5.6 RPT, 57.3 FG%)
Comparison should favor Philly, it doesn’t
Now, while you will examine this group, keep this in mind: Average performance includes rookie seasons. By rights, each free agent should outperform their career averages. The players who have two or better Sixers stats exceeding their averages are Sergio Rodriguez, and J.J. Redick. Of those two, Rodriguez is back in the Euroleague and Redick has dropped his perimeter shooting by nearly a full three percentage points. He was signed to shoot three-pointers.
The Philadelphia 76ers signed J.J. Redick for $23 Million this season. Just to compare, the Indianapolis Pacers signed Victor Oladipo to a $21 Million per season deal, and he is delivering baskets by the buckets, including shooting 43.2 3pt% versus a career average of 35.9 3pt%. In short, while we hoped the best for our free agents, they aren’t delivering the best.