Sixers new look offense with deadly-shooting JJ Redick

By George Kondoleon | Jul 2, 2017

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 26: J.J. Redick /

The Sixers have made a huge splash by signing a deadly outside shooter, and now the offense will have more fluidity.

The Sixers signed JJ Redick. And it’s absolutely an immediate impactful signing. Redick is coming off a career-reviving tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he’ll look to mirror his performance with the youthful Sixers.

Redick is going from playing with future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, to playing with two high-potential rookies in Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz. The move from LA to Philadelphia will hope to prove that Redick is a solidified pure shooter, and not just a product of the talent around him.

The Sixers lineup hasn’t changed much since the signing, as Fultz and Redick will now take over the back court. Robert Covington, Simmons, and Joel Embiid will round out the front court. Simmons will still be the primary ball-handler in the pick-and-roll game, and the Sixers now have an opportunity to have a spacey offense.

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Simmons’ uniqueness as a floor general allows for various matchup problems for opposing team. Putting him in a two-man game with Joel Embiid, whose versatility can put big men on an island, is set to see early success against almost any team. Last season, Embiid finished in the top ten in points per game in the PnR game as the roll-man. His ability was unquestioned. The questions came in the surrounding of this two-man game, that is, until the Sixers made some huge splashes in the offseason.

The trade for the top pick in the draft gave Philadelphia a dangerous outside threat and an elite guard prospect in Markelle Fultz, who can be effective both with and without the ball. Then, they paired him with the one of the league’s best catch-and-shoot option in JJ Redick. So now, the Sixers hold three floor spacers, including Covington, who despite his inconsistencies, is still a decent threat from outside.

This will give Brett Brown his most versatile roster to date, and his most dangerous one. The half-court sets weren’t as prevalent last season, with another year of a point guard carousel occurring and Embiid going down early. That will change this year, and the pressure for Brett Brown to create an effective offense is slightly higher this year.

The beauty is, however, he has a solid base in the veteran Redick. Redick will have a similar role in the Sixers offense as he did in Los Angeles. The major difference may come on how he gets his outside shots. Doc Rivers loved to run off-ball screens that lead to three-pointers off the wing. Redick was third in points per game off screens, behind Klay Thompson and Bradley Beal.

I expect Brown to run some of those sets, but the gravity of Simmons and Embiid should naturally allow Redick to find open space, much like the Blake Griffin effect here.

If Brett Brown’s offense last season is any indication, the Sixers will be dedicated to opening up space for shooters along the perimeter, even with their main offensive focal points being being inside scorers. Redick will have plenty of opportunities to continue his catch-and-shoot opportunities, where he shot 44.9% last season.

Fultz will have options as the secondary ball-handler, with Redick and Embiid being the next best scoring threats after him. The passing between him and Simmons will open up room for players like Robert Covington.

Covington’s shot failed him in some ways last year, but his quick instincts to drive to the basket will prove to be more important this year. With his contract extension seeing a lower ceiling after the Redick and Amir Johnson signings, Covington will have to prove his role with the offense as an effective final option.

Next: How do Redick and Johnson fit?

The Sixers made a roster-shaping move in bringing on Redick, and as the pieces to this longly-challenged puzzle start to show, the team will know how to move forward.