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Philadelphia 76ers: Biggest strengths and weaknesses for 2017-18

By Jerran Anderson

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 08: Markelle Fultz #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during a 2017 Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Philadelphia won 95-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 08: Markelle Fultz #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during a 2017 Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Philadelphia won 95-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images /

Strength No. 2: 3-point shooting

The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t waste any time addressing an immediate need. They hit a home run by signing J.J. Redick to a one-year, $23 million deal. Redick is a 3-point sharpshooter with 12 years of experience in the NBA.

He ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage (42.9 percent) last season. He led the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage in the 2015-16 season (47.5 percent). Redick ranks sixth among active players in 3-point field goal percentage (41.5). Acquiring a long range shooter with their cap space makes Philadelphia a team to watch behind the arc.

Incoming rookie Markelle Fultz certainly boosts the team’s 3-point shooting ability as well. Fultz shot 41.3 percent from distance in his lone season with the Washington Huskies. He averaged 2.1 makes on 5.0 attempts, making 52 total 3-pointers.

Despite ranking seventh in the NBA in 3-pointers attempted (29.8) and 10th in 3-pointers made (10.1), the Philadelphia 76ers still ranked 25th in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (34.0).

Their best long range shooter would have been Jerryd Bayless, if he appeared in more than three games in 2016-17. He shot 40.0 percent from 3-point land before going down with injury.

Nik Stauskas was next in line after shooting 36.8 percent from behind the 3-point line. Surprisingly, Joel Embiid was 36.7 percent from three. He was the Sixers fourth-best 3-point shooter last season.

With Redick, Fultz, Bayless now healthy and Stauskas, the Sixers have some sharpshooters in their arsenal to work with.