"We've got so much young talent, and guys are going to have to get up and down [the floor], and we have a big talent down there in Andrew," said Wright, who spent his last two seasons with Golden State following six in Miami after being taken with the 19th overall pick out of high school in 2004. "We're definitely going to dump the ball down there to him. Sometimes when we get our fastbreak or a rebound, we're going to have to run. Hopefully, Andrew will run with us and we get easy baskets. He's just going to open the game up a lot.
"He's going to need two defenders to stop him. I would say that he's the best big man in the NBA right now, hands down. He's a guy who can give you baskets, and executes with his back to the basket; a guy who makes free throws at 7 feet tall. So you just have to respect the fact that guys have to double him and we have guys around the perimeter who can knock down open shots, and you have to get out there to us. I'm really looking forward to playing with him. I've known him for a few years now and I'm pretty sure he's going to be on the right page and come out here and win just like he did in LA."
Having someone like Bynum down low could mean a monster year for Wright, who two seasons ago made 194 three-pointers on 516 attempts, both NBA highs, while averaging a career-high 16.4 points. Last season, in a slower style under new coach Mark Jackson, Wright's numbers dipped to 10.3 points a game, and he made 89 fewer threes on only 292 attempts. But it was the way he adapted to the new style of play that turned Sixers coach Doug Collins on to Wright. While the strength of his game was shelved a bit - as were his minutes by 11.4 a game, Wright continued to play tough defense for Jackson and do whatever was needed from him. He plans on continuing that for Collins.
"As far as my role, starting or coming off the bench, I don't know, but whatever coach wants," the affable Wright said. "I'm all about winning. I'd rather come off the bench and win instead of starting and playing 20 minutes and losing. I'm really looking forward to whatever my role is. Get wins, that's what it's all about. [Collins] wants me to be a leader. On the offensive end, just coming in and knocking down open shots, be a playmaker, which is something that is very underrated about my game, something that people don't see, putting the ball on the floor, getting guys open shots and also creating for myself. I'm looking forward to that. It's going to be fun.
"Another key [is] me coming here and playing defense. That's something that I was known for in Miami. I want to get back to those ways. I won't say being a lock-down defender, because any guys can get hot and score whenever he wants on you, but being a guy who gets out there and bothering guys' shots. Being back in the East with a lot of talented 'three' men, so you've got to be prepared each and every night. I'm just going to try and do my best to make it tough on the offensive player."
Although he'll turn only 27 in December, Wright is one of the elder statesmen on this young Sixers roster. In his couple of weeks working out with his new teammates, he said he has been impressed with Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, two players whom Collins has given a lot of responsibility.
"I can tell that they're hungry and they're ready to win, and they want to take their game to the next level," Wright said. "You can tell when somebody is serious about their job and who is a pro and who's not. Those guys take it serious and understand coach is putting a lot on them. That's how you grow up. That's how you get older and get your respect around this league. I think they're going to be up for the challenge."
Contact Bob Cooney at cooneyb@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobCooney76.
For more Sixers coverage, read his blog at philly.com/Sixerville.
