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Jason Richardson will be the Sixers highest paid player this
season, but that does not guarantee that the swingman is going to hit the
hardwood.
After missing all of last season recovering from knee
surgery, the 33-year old is expected to make his return for the Sixers this
season. However, it is yet to be seen
whether he will actually play. While
speaking to media members at Monday’s Media Day, Sixers GM Sam Hinkie was
non-committal about Richardson’s role on-court for the Sixers.
“We’ll see,” Hinkie replied when asked if Richardson would
have a role with the team this year, before following up with a quick qualifier
and emphasizing Richardson’s off-court impact on the team.
“He’ll definitely have a role as a voice on our team. He was
helpful in that last year. He wasn’t able to contribute for us on the floor,
but he contributed in lots of other ways.”
As a veteran with 12 years of experience and a career
scoring average of over 17 points per game, Richardson’s knowledge could be
very valuable in a locker room leadership-type role, especially with the
absence of other NBA-experienced individuals.
The reality however is that a young team dedicated to
development with no immediate intention to contend, such as the Sixers, can’t
afford many minutes to an aging veteran that has no future with the franchise.
Richardson certainly understood the situation when he opted in for the final
year of his contract in July.
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“We talked to him
over the summer about that several times,” Hinkie revealed. “We thanked him for
all that he had done in that environment, and I suspect that he will be able to
pick that up.”
Richardson is certainly suited to serve again as a voice for
the Sixers’ rebuilding roster, but the former Michigan State Spartan has higher
hopes that involve hitting the hardwood. Hinkie echoed those hopes.
“He’s hopeful, and we’re hopeful, that he’ll be able to do
more.”
More mean, of course, on-court contribution.
“If he can play, that will be great and he’ll be able to
help us. Also if he can play, I think that would give him an even bigger
voice.”
Notice that the possibility of Richardson playing was
preceded by an ‘if’ from Hinkie, meaning that there is chance he won’t.
Like most of the other players who hope to suit up for the
Sixers this season, Richardson’s role is far from set in stone. He is the most
experienced player on a team teeming with young talent, and that in itself is
valuable. If Richardson is able to play, compete, and contribute at a level
deemed acceptable by the team, he may see some minutes. Otherwise, Richardson
may be facing another season on the sideline, his contributions coming off of
the court.
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