J.J. Redick wants to finish his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he deserves that opportunity.
The Philadelphia 76ers are 34-28, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference in what is shaping up to be a tight playoff race down the stretch. While obviously still flawed, the Sixers look like a good team that’s capable of doing some damage in the postseason — and they should only get better in the coming years.
J.J. Redick seems to realize that, as he continues to thrive in his first season with the squad. In a media session before Sunday night’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, Redick said he wanted his Sixers relationship to be a “long-term thing,” essentially reiterating his statements from last summer.
If anything, Redick deserves the chance to finish his career in Philly.
Redick has his shortcomings, but his presence is still extremely important to the Sixers’ offense. His off-ball movement unlocks several different actions for Brett Brown, while both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons need spacing. Philadelphia’s execution is noticably smoother whenever Redick in on the floor. He’s a defensive liability at times, but that’s normally offset by his shooting prowess on the other end.
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On top of that, he’s also an excellent locker room presence. He’s smart, well-articulated, and seems to have a positive relationship with the group’s young stars. Whether it be standing up for Markelle Fultz or giving advice behind the scenes, he seems to have a significant niche in the Sixers’ culture.
As Redick noted in his pre-game comments, things can change pretty quickly in the NBA. Him deserving a chance to finish his career in Philly comes with an obvious qualifier: it has to be on a reasonable contract.
If the Sixers are players in free agency (Hello, LeBron James), Redick would need to take a significant pay cut. There’s a zero percent chance the Sixers are re-upping their $23 million pledge, but that goes without saying.
I don’t think anybody expects Redick to demand that kind of money, but the chances of him sticking in Philadelphia are slim if he’s looking for another hefty contract. He isn’t a veteran minimum kind of player, but his contracts should gradually begin approaching that mark over the next few years.
By virtue of his shooting, Redick’s game should have some longevity as he ages into his mid-30s. His defense will only get worse, but his ability to run around screens and knock down shots on the perimeter shouldn’t diminish.
We just saw a 40-year-old Jason Terry get buckets with Robert Covington guarding him.
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Redick brings a lot of positives, both on and off the court, to the Sixers organization. If it’s within reason, he should be in a Sixers uniform until he retires.