Philadelphia 76ers: All I want for Christmas is J.J. Redick

The Philadelphia 76ers have been good this year. Hopefully, they find J.J. Redick under the tree in a masterful move by Elton Brand to fix their woes.

It’s Christmas; a day meant to celebrate one and one thing only: Capitalism.

Okay, technically, that isn’t the only thing people celebrate on Christmas, but did you really come here for a lesson on Theology?

No, you are (presumably) here to read about basketball, specifically the Philadelphia 76ers, and what kind of present the team could look for to put their roster over the top.

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But who could that be? Is there a player that would instantly fix the Sixers’ bench scoring and/or shooting woes? Maybe even someone with experience playing in Brett Brown‘s scheme?

… it’s J.J. Redick, duh.

I mean, who else would it be? How many other former Sixers starters are sitting around on a fledgling non-playoff team with no hope for a path to the postseason?

Robert Covington? Touche.

But if we’re being honest, the 76ers kind of already have a few Covington-esque players on their roster. Between James Ennis, Mike Scott, Josh Richardson, Matisse Thybulle, Tobias Harris, and even Ben Simmons, the Sixers have pretty much been able to fill RoCo’s role as a top-of-the-key defender with varying degrees of success.

The Sixers, however, have not been able to find another shooter who can knock down three 3s a game at a 40 percent clip.

J.J. can do that. J.J. did do that in two seasons with the Sixers and over the majority of his 14-year career in the NBA. Why couldn’t he do so again six months later?

He certainly looked good when the Sixers played the Pelicans not one month ago – not even a little weighed down from the carb-heavy diet typically associated with The Big Easy.

And rumor has it; he may be available.

You see, when Redick signed with the Pelicans all the way back in June, it was with the express purpose of jump-starting a high-flying offense built around the generational talents of one Zion Williamson. With Redick at the two, the Pels could surround their supersized playmaker with shooters upon shooters, and craft an offense capable of challenging for a sixth, seventh, or eighth seed in the post-Warriors Western Conference world.

Obviously, that didn’t happen.

After suffering a preseason meniscus injury back in October, Williamson has left the Pelicans a team without an identity – built around a bunch of ex-Lakers, some free agent acquisitions, and a few regiments from the Anthony Davis-era.

Barring a surprise debut from Williamson that spurs on a massive renaissance, Redick’s career-spanning playoff streak may come to an end with a whimper, not a roar.

That is, of course, unless Elton Brand makes a move to bring back his boy to make good on his desire to ‘finish out his career in Philly‘.

With a slew of second-rounders, a protected 2020 first-round pick from the OKC Thunder that looks borderline bankable, and some interesting young players like Zhaire Smith, Jonah Bolden, and Shake Milton who would be much better served on a younger team, Philly has the firepower to get a deal done if the Pelicans are willing to play ball.

I love Mike Scott as much as the next guy, but he’s no Redick – but to be fair, very few players are.

Next. Derrick Rose is exactly what Philly needs. dark

Will it happen? Maybe, maybe not, but Christmas is about making wishes and all I want for Christmas is (for the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire) J.J. Redick. If you don’t, Danny Ainge very well may.