76ers can expect points - and leadership - from Redick and Johnson

LAS VEGAS — The 76ers introduced two of the most important pieces of the team's development Saturday night. J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson met with the media at 9 p.m. Philadelphia time in the Strip View Pavilion at the Thomas and Mack Center a few hours after signing lucrative one-year contracts.

Redick, a sharpshooting veteran guard, will receive $23 million, and Johnson, a veteran power forward, is set to make $11 million. It will be money well spent for the Sixers.

The two should provide much-needed leadership to one of the NBA's youngest teams. Jerryd Bayless (nine-year veteran) and Robert Covington (four years) are the only other players on the roster with more than three years' experience.

Redick can share his experiences with the younger stars in dealing with the lofty expectations that come from being one of the nation's top college prospects. Redick was the 2006 national college player of the year and a two-time consensus first-team all-American at Duke. The Orlando Magic selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2006 draft. But he played in just 76 games in his first two seasons without a start.

"I was very fortunate to have some great veterans to set the tone for me," Redick said.

Redick said he is eager to provide leadership for the Sixers' young core just like former Chester High and St. Joseph's star Jameer Nelson and other Magic veterans gave him.

"I think I can speak for Amir as well," Redick said. "We are in the second phase of our career. We've been through enough now and have enough wisdom that we can be an effective elder."

Indeed, Johnson can show the young players how hard work is needed to have a successful career. He went directly from high school to the NBA as a Detroit Pistons second-round pick in 2005.

Johnson's introduction to the NBA was tough as he had to battle Philadelphia native Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace and Antonio McDyess at practice. The three, he said, would routinely get the best of him.

"It taught me a lot … on the court and off," Johnson said of those battles. "They taught me to be a man and go in the gym and work hard constantly.

"They always preached in my ear. 'The worst never stops.' I had to basically grow up quick."

Both Redick and Johnson stressed that over the years they learned to be vocal on the court and to work hard every day at practice. Now, they said, it's their role to pass that along to their new teammates.

"I will say a lot to the young guys," Johnson said.

But leadership is only part of the equation.
Sixers owners "Josh (Harris) and Dave (Blitzer) and (team president) Bryan Colangelo aren't paying me $23 million just to be the leader," Redick said. "They are paying me to play and the same thing with Amir."

Johnson should add depth as a backup post player, and Redick should become the spot-up shooter the Sixers desperately need.

The 33-year-old Redick blossomed into one of the best shooters in the NBA and averaged 15.8 points and 44.0 percent shooting on three-pointers for the Los Angeles Clippers over the last four seasons. Redick also can exhaust opponents with his constant motion on offense. That's something the Sixers will likely use to create space for Joel Embiid on the block and allow Markelle Fultz to get more open looks. And the 11-year veteran could be a dream teammate for a pass-first player such as Ben Simmons.

The 6-foot-9 Johnson, who turned 30 in May, is considered among the top defensive power forwards in the NBA. Entering his 13th NBA season, he played four years with the Pistons, six with the Toronto Raptors, and the last two with Boston.

Last season, Johnson appeared in 80 games, making 77 starts. In an average of 20.1 minutes per game, he averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds. He also shot a career-best 40.9 percent from three-point range but attempted just 66 from beyond the arc, making 27.

"I definitely … put in work," Johnson said.

Also playing some center in Boston, he bulked up to 262 pounds. Johnson said he is determined to weigh 245 this season. He said he weighs 253 now.

"So, I'm kind of slimming down, to have a more quicker speed role," he said. "Since I'm with a younger team I feel like … I've got to be able to keep up."

His goal is to be quicker, more active and that player he was during the prime of his career in Toronto.

"That's what I'm really focusing myself on because we have a great center in Joel Embiid," Johnson said. "So I want to be … active on the glass, get to my spots and acclimate the (three-pointer) in my game.

"I feel like this year is definitely going to be my best."