In Wright, the Sixers get a 6-7 forward who can shoot the ball from distance. Two seasons ago, he made 194 of 516 (37.6 percent) three-pointers, both NBA highs. He also averaged 16.4 points that season. This past season, Wright averaged 10.3 points and went 105-for-292 from three-point range (36 percent). He has missed only one game the past two seasons, starting each of the other 143.
By adding Wright and Young, the team has dramatically improved its outside shooting, an area in which it struggled mightily last season. But they also are adding a couple of players who are suspect defenders.
When the team agreed to bring in Young, they essentially cut ties to last year's leading scorer, Lou Williams. The diminutive guard had spent each of his seven seasons in Philadelphia after being a second-round pick of the Sixers out of South Gwinnett High School, near Atlanta, in 2005. Now, it appears as if Williams is going home, as reports say he has agreed to a multiyear contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
Now it seems that the team must find a backup point guard to Jrue Holiday. While Evan Turner, probably the team's starting "two" guard, and Andre Iguodala can handle the ball, at times, getting a point guard to back up Holiday and enable him to move off the ball at times would be ideal.
Contact Bob Cooney at cooneyb@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobCooney76. For more Sixers coverage and opinion, read his blog at www.philly.com/Sixerville.
