JJ Redick wants Sixers' tenure 'to be a long-term thing'

MILWAUKEE – JJ Redick wants to continue to witness the maturation process of 76ers teammates Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons first-hand.

"This is something that I'll reiterate that I said last summer when I signed here. I want this to be a long-term thing," the shooting guard said Sunday morning.

Redick is having a career year after signing a $23 million, one-year deal with the Sixers on July 8, 2017. The 33-year-old was averaging career bests in scoring (16.7 points), rebounds (2.5) and minutes played (31.6) heading into Sunday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Bradley Harris Center. His 3.2 assists were his second highest average over his 12-year career.

"I love playing here," Redick said. "I love playing with these guys. I love playing for Brett [Brown]. This has been a fantastic experience."

Right now, the sharpshooter appears to be a likely key piece in the Sixers' future. However, he recognizes that things can change quickly in this league. He's seen it happen.

And this summer, his team will have a lot of cap space available to go after A-list free agents. Redick could be deemed expendable, depending on which free agent the Sixers are able to lure.

"So I'm under no grand illusion," he said. "It's hopefully something that will work out in the end. We've got 20 games left, a lot can change."

Newly re-signed Sixer Ersan Ilyasova always gets a special feeling when returning to Milwaukee to face the Bucks. The reserve power forward was drafted by the Bucks in the second round of 2005 NBA draft and spent seven years with the organization. Milwaukee is also the place where his wife, three children, and in-laws reside.

So Sunday's game was literally a homecoming for the 10th-year NBA veteran who's played for six different teams.

Sidelined players Justin Anderson (sprained right ankle), Furkan Korkmaz (Lisfranc injury) and Markelle Fultz (shoulder rehabilitation) are all on the Sixers' three-game road trip to Milwaukee, Charlotte and Miami.  The team plays the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday at the Spectrum Center, followed by a meeting with the Miami Heat on Thursday at American Airlines Arena.

The Sixers will fly back to Philadelphia late Thursday night to sleep in their own beds for a couple of days.  Then they'll  head to Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon for Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center.