3. What about shooting?
Believe it or not, the Sixers lost more than Jimmy Butler this summer. J.J. Redick also departed, signing in New Orleans as soon as NBA rules deemed it legal. He was one of the first free agents off the board, a slight shock to many Philadelphia fans.
Redick was not a good defender and, yes, there were times where his defense actively hurt the Sixers. He was also an essential part to Brett Brown’s offense, turning off-ball movement in countless shot opportunities and functional offensive sets on the perimeter.
Whether it was the two-man game with Embiid or just running in circles until his defender got tired, Redick was a major source of both points and diversity for Philadelphia. Without Redick’s jittery presence, defenses would have had a much easier time zeroing in on Brown’s basic tendencies.
In Redick’s absence, the main question surrounding Philadelphia’s offense — beyond the aforementioned Jimmy Butler conundrum — is how the team will replicate Redick’s presence. The short answer is: they won’t.
The Sixers don’t have the personnel to do what Redick does. Instead, Brown will need to change his approach, implementing more standard sets, targeting different areas of the court, and using Philadelphia’s size to bludgeon opponents in the paint.
Elton Brand and the front office made a clear and decisive pivot toward size and defense this summer. It comes at the cost of Redick, an all-time shooter and a unique, system-defining talent.