J.J. Redick inked a 1-year, $23 million deal with the Sixers this summer to become Philadelphia’s veteran presence as they try to take the next step in The Process to become a playoff team. Redick will bring his sweet shooting stroke and experience to a roster that is otherwise devoid of both, but Philadelphia wasn’t the only team throwing big bucks at the former Clippers’ guard.
Redick launched his new podcast, The Chronicles of Redick, on Uninterrupted on Wednesday and on his first episode he explained how he came to the decision to go to Philadelphia. Redick said that role, not money, was the key factor in his decision to join the Sixers.
As he explained, he was offered more total money from the Rockets, where he could’ve joined up with former teammate Chris Paul and James Harden on a contender in the West, but wanted the starting job in Philadelphia rather than fighting for bench minutes with Houston (transcription via 247 Sports’ Michael Kaskey-Blomain).
“It wasn’t about the money. Houston offered me more money than Philly. Total money. They offered me more money,” Redick said. “I knew in Houston, I was going to come off of the bench. Me and Eric Gordon do a lot of the same things… It wasn’t necessarily going to be what I wanted at this point in my career for the court part of it.”
Now, in noting that it was “total money” Redick isn’t saying that the Rockets offered him a multi-year deal worth over $23 million per year, but it’s clear that there was a long-term deal on the table. However, Houston’s roster is loaded with guards and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon, as Redick noted, already has the third guard spot locked up.
In Philadelphia, Redick will start and can be the primary shooter on a team that lacks punch from three-point range otherwise. Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons will be the primary ball-handlers, but Simmons is definitely not a strong perimeter shooter and Fultz, while a scorer and able shooter, isn’t of the level from deep as Redick.
With the Sixers, Redick can get his shots and put up big numbers so when he hits the market again next season he’ll be able to draw more big offers and choose whether to stay in Philly, if they want him, or to try and go elsewhere to a contender that might have open space and a need for a sharp-shooter.
