5. Josh Richardson
Josh Richardson, former Miami Heat guard, could be a key player to opening up this offense and adding some shooting depth. Sixers fans were disappointed when free agency hit and almost instantly Jimmy Butler’s rights were traded for Josh Richardson, on top of J.J. Redick leaving for NOLA. These abrupt moves concerned many fans, urging the 76ers front office, Elton Brand, and Coach Brown to “run it back”.
If you take a step back and look at the money, age, and potential of each player, it really seems like Josh could be a much better fit for the 76ers than Butler ever was. Yes, on paper Jimmy Butler is a “superstar” but the raw talent and skill set Richardson brings is a much more natural fit for Ben, Embiid and others.
Watching Richardson’s highlights, you can see that he is the much needed off-ball guard this lineup needs. He can play as the primary ball handler if needed, but his corner sharpshooting needs to be a staple of coach Brown’s offensive game plan. He isn’t only limited to shooting from long distance, though. Richardson drives the hoop when possible, and has outstanding court vision to keep his game versatile.
At only 25 years old, Richardson’s potential can only go up from here. In his 186 NBA games he has a 42.5 field goal percentage and 36.8 three-point percentage. Not only does Richardson bring more upside than Jimmy, but his rookie contract extension gave the Sixers enough wiggle room to bring in the likes of Al Horford.
On paper, Richardson looks like a much more natural fit on this offense than Jimmy and has a much higher ceiling than J.J. Redick did at this point in his career. If the Sixers want to be true contenders in the east, Richardson needs to play a key role on this offense. Richardson really could be the final piece in the Sixers offensive puzzle.