Will the Sixers be in play for JJ Redick or other veterans before the trade deadline? | Off the Dribble

Good morning, Sixers fans. Sunday’s 119-110 win over the host Indiana Pacers was truly impressive considering it was the Sixers’ first victory in five games without Joel Embiid, who was out with back tightness. In addition, the Sixers trailed by 20 points late in the third quarter and by 16 with less than eight minutes remaining.

The Sixers have a rare two days off before visiting Charlotte on Wednesday. Sunday’s win was a testament to their bench, which outscored Indiana’s reserves, 54-37. On this night, the bench was a major catalyst. But is it good enough to help propel the Sixers to the Eastern Conference title? That will be examined closely between now and the March 25 trade deadline.

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— Marc Narducci (offthedribble@inquirer.com)

Could former 76er JJ Redick be rejoining the team?

The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey reports that Redick, who averaged 17.6 points and shot 40.7% from three-point range in his two seasons in Philadelphia, ending in 2019, wants to return to the Northeast to play. The Athletic reported that the Sixers, Nets, and Celtics have expressed interest in acquiring the New Orleans Pelicans guard.

Redick is on an expiring contract that pays $13.1 million this season, so it is presumed that any team that acquires him won’t have to give up a lot. Of the three teams, the Celtics have the biggest need, presuming that Redick, 36, can regain his shooting touch.

This season, Redick is averaging 7.9 points and shooting 29.8% from three-point range for the Pelicans, who are off to a disappointing 7-11 start under new coach Stan Van Gundy.

Redick has fallen out of the Pelicans rotation, having not played the last two games. The two games before that, he shot 1-for-10 from three-point range.

If this were last year, the Sixers would likely be all over Redick, but the additions of Seth Curry and Danny Green have given them more three-point options. The Sixers are 14th in three-point shooting (36.4%), but that is lower than last year when they were ninth at 36.8%.

So maybe the Sixers, if they feel that Redick has something left, will pursue him. Any team that does attempt to trade for Redick would be looking solely for three-point shooting. He provides nothing on the defensive end, but Redick also had great chemistry with Embiid when they played together.

Boston needs a wing scorer even though the Celtics are shooting 37.7% from three-point range. The Nets desperately need defense, evidenced by Sunday’s 149-146 loss at Washington when the Wizards scored 48 points in the fourth quarter.

Tuesday is the deadline for a player to be acquired in a trade and still be aggregated in a multiplayer deal by the March 25 trade deadline.

The Nets already have made a move, signing defensive-minded wing Iman Shumpert, but they must add a post defender or Embiid will destroy them. Brooklyn’s center is 32-year-old DeAndre Jordan, who averages just 20.5 minutes and is a far cry from the two-time, first-team all-NBA defensive-team choice he was in 2015 and 2016.

The Nets lead the NBA in scoring (122.2 ppg.) but are 27th in points allowed (117.7). That likely isn’t sustainable.

The Celtics and the other main Eastern Conference contender, Milwaukee, both could use a scorer off the bench. Just about any team can make that claim.

What about the Sixers? At 15-6, they have the best record in the Eastern Conference. If their reserves continue to play the way they did against Indiana, there would be no worries, but bench play throughout the NBA is up-and-down.

The Sixers could use a scorer off the bench, or more depth at power forward.

Embiid has gotten a lot of mention for NBA MVP, and rightly so, but might he not even make first-team all-NBA?

Denver center Nikola Jokic is also enjoying a dominating season. Jokic is averaging 26.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 0.6 blocked shots. He is shooting 38.4% from three-point range. He tied his career high by scoring 47 points Sunday in a 128-117 home victory over Utah.

Embiid is averaging 28.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 blocked shots. He is shooting a career-best 40.4% from three-point range.

LeBron James, two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant are among the other MVP candidates, in a season in which nobody has pulled away from the pack.

Wednesday: Sixers at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m., Spectrum Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Thursday: Portland Trail Blazers at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Saturday: Brooklyn Nets at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Feb. 9: Sixers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m., Golden 1 Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus

Feb. 11: Sixers at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m., Moda Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus/TNT

Question: What is the likelihood of Matisse getting NBA all defense recognition this season? — David Rhode (@davidrhode) on Twitter

Answer: Thanks for the question, David. Right now, the only thing that will likely hurt Thybulle is minutes. He is averaging just 16.1 minutes, and I don’t know if that will increase substantially because of his inconsistency on offense.

That said, entering Sunday, he was leading the NBA in steals per 100 possessions (4.3) and was 27th in blocks per 100 possessions (2.3). His defensive rating (103) was 11th among those who have appeared in at least 10 games. Despite these totals, I think it might be tough for him, but wouldn’t totally discount it.