With J.J. Redick on contract for just one season, what would it take for the Philadelphia 76ers to re-sign him?
There have been some ups and downs, but J.J. Redick has been everything you could have hoped for with the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s averaging a career-high in points (17.4) while shooting 40.7 percent from deep, giving the starting unit a viable third option alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
For a one-season flier, that’s pretty good.
Redick has been especially hot as of late. The London game marked his fourth consecutive 20-plus point outing in what has been his best stretch of the season. The Sixers’ offense tends to rise and fall with their shooting, so Redick’s success has translated to team success as well. Before getting a 22-point lead (and blowing it) against Boston, the Sixers were riding a four-game win streak.
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As somebody who’s embracing his role as a mentor and producing at a high level on the court, it’s important that we don’t understate Redick’s value. He adds an offensive dynamic that the Sixers have desperately lacked in years past while also giving them some additional wisdom in the locker room, even if he doesn’t believe in dinosaurs.
That’s what makes this offseason so intriguing. Under no circumstances will the Sixers give J.J. another $23 million, but I doubt he asks for that much. He’ll also be 34, so Bryan Colangelo will have to weigh his immediate value and the Sixers’ long-term financial stability when making an offer. There’s a lot to consider.
For what he brings to the locker room alone, I think it’s worth bringing Redick back. That should be a primary goal this offseason, and that’s without mentioning the longevity of his skill set. He might lose a step or two, but he’ll always be a plus shooter regardless of the aging process. He should easily last another five years if that’s something he wants to do.
We also have to consider the fact that Redick, on multiple occasions, said he wants to finish his career in Philly. Throughout his offseason documentary, Redick mentioned the importance of family and finally settling down. I doubt he passes up on a reasonable deal to relocate somewhere else, assuming the Brooklyn Nets don’t throw big money in his direction.
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So, what’s a fair contract? That’s really what this comes down to. How long does Redick want to keep playing, and how much do the Sixers need to pay him for that to happen.
When you look at what other players in Redick’s niche are getting nowadays, the standard seems to be a few notches above the league minimum. Kyle Korver is making $6 million per season, while Marco Belinelli is making just a shade above that. Redick is the better player, but those are a couple of aging shooters in comparable roles.
I think Redick deserves more than that, even if he got slightly overpaid this season by most standards. He’s a big part of this offense, so losing him in a year where the Sixers are set to take the next step in their progression could sting. I’m not sure he asks for a lot, but something along the lines of a two-year, $18 million contract would make sense.
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That might be a little low or high, but it’s a reasonable bar to set. Redick, even as he ages, brings a lot to this team across the board. Any competitive team can benefit from a sharpshooter of his ilk, and that’s the direction Philly is currently trending. Add in his veteran leadership, and it becomes a no-brainer.