The Newz (Take 3)

Yup. It's holding steady.

Also, I know what you're thinking: didn't he just publish a weekly news story? You wouldn't be wrong fair reader! My most recent weekly news update was just three days ago. But, you see...I'm trying to get on a more consistent schedule, and I've decided Wednesday is the day for these, so a bit of a course correction is in order.

The catch is that...not much has happened in the past few days, so this will be a short entry.

But news is news!

Lowry Back on the Radar After All? Other Options?

Trade season is nuts. I don't even know why I bother with rumors as news stories, but here we are. After just saying barely 72 hours ago that Lowry wasn't happening, not only does it seem like he's back on the block, but there's even rumors that the Lakers might be interested.

But the hell with that, this is a Sixers blog, and it just so happens that they are the favorites to land the Philly native's services. Ignore the Heat rumors, it's Sixers or bust (don't ignore the Heat rumors, I'm just a blind optimist). It'll be expensive to land the veteran point guard, but I've spoken at length about how great it would be to land him. And in the NBA, if you feel like you have a shot, you shoot your damn shot.

If Lowry isn't headed back, Lonzo Ball, Norman Powell and George Hill seem to be alternative solutions the Sixers are monitoring. That's coming from Woj, so there could be some real fire to this smoke. Those are three very different players, but they all make sense in their own way, and each one would represent a good piece for this team in a potential championship push.

Redick NOT an Option, though?

One name who probably is just as likely if not more than any of the above names to end up in a different uniform at or after the deadline is J.J. Redick. The 36-year-old has not been great from deep for the Pelicans this year, shooting below league average from three (36.4% vs. 36.7%) for the first time in his 15-year career. Considering at this stage of his NBA-tenure he offers little else, it isn't surprising the Pelicans are looking to move on. All signs point to Redick being bought out, and if that's the case, the Sixers should pounce.

But will they?

While there are plenty who think returning to Philly would be a natural fit for the 6'3" sniper (raises hand) given his open desire to head northeast, the Sixers may not be inclined to pursue Redick because of his...poor defensive performance in the 2019 playoffs?

Stop it. Just, stop it.

Obviously and undersized 2-guard on the back-nine of his career who never had great athleticism or standout physical tools to begin with is a liability at the less glamorous end of the court. But that's why you have Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle, Danny Green and literally anyone else on the roster. A contender--especially one with Simmons and Joel Embiid as its core stars--can never have enough shooting, and Redick has buried 1,935 triples in his career at 41.5%. You mean you can't run him out there for 15-20 minutes of him pinballing around the perimeter and tying defenses into knots? The reward far outweighs the risk.

Besides--Toby is game.

Reed Wins MVP...of the G-League

This is pretty cool I'd say. Reed is a 6'9", 210-pound forward who the Sixers took in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft. He's only 21, and he's coming off a hell of a year..

It shouldn't come as a surprise that he was named G-League MVP given his videogame-like stat-stuffing: 22.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.8 blocks. Thrown in a 44.4% 3-point clip on 3.6 attempts, and you have an ultra intriguing ball of clay that flashes the type of skillset of a thoroughly modern combo big. The fact that he led the Delaware Blue Coats to the championship game is just icing on the cake.

Now that the rookie is back with the big club, hopefully Doc carves out some time for him--and Isaiah Joe for that matter--to flash what he's got.