By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia 76ers start training camp in just a matter of weeks and the excitement is growing. On Monday, Sports Illustrated released numbers 51-100 of its Top 100 NBA player ranking for 2018 and two Sixers find themselves on the list. Forward Robert Covington is ranked 82nd on the list while newly-signed J.J. Redick comes in at 59th. Sports Illustrated will be releasing numbers 1-50 on Tuesday.
Here's what Sports Illustrated had to say about Covington…
Nerlens Noel might be gone, Jahlil Okafor might be unplayable, and a laundry list of other fringe players might have moved on after brief cups of coffee, but The Process era did manage to unearth a legitimate gem in Covington (12.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 APG). The undrafted forward firmed up his reputation as one of the best multi-positional defenders in the NBA last season, ranking fourth overall in Defensive Real Plus-Minus and finishing (a very distant) fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting despite playing for the 28-win Sixers. One of just 10 players to average at least one assist and one block per game, Covington’s length, mobility and strength make him a nuisance for point guards and power forwards alike. Whereas other defense-first wings like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Andre Roberson do not appear in our Top 100, the 26-year-old Covington earned the nod because he should be something better than completely hopeless on offense. Theoretically, the return of franchise center Joel Embiid and the arrival of playmaking ball-handlers like Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz will help create easier scoring opportunities in transition and cleaner catch-and-shoot looks, thereby simplifying Covington’s responsibilities and bolstering his woeful shooting numbers. — BG
There's no doubting Covington's ability to play 100 percent on both ends of the floor. If RoCo isn't scoring, he's making plays on defense and if by chance he's off defensively, he'll probably redeem himself with a clutch three in the fourth quarter. Despite all of the new additions and rookies ready to play, Covington will likely remain in his starting spot at small forward while also guarding the NBA's best players on the perimeter.
Here's what Sports Illustrated had to say about one of the Sixers' biggest offseason additions, J.J. Redick…
Although he’s reversing the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s journey by leaving L.A. for Philadelphia, Redick (15 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.4 APG) will nevertheless have his life flipped-turned upside down once he suits up for the Sixers. For the last four years, Redick played alongside an elite point guard in a star-studded and veteran-dominated Clippers starting lineup that annually ranked among the NBA’s most efficient offensive units. With the Sixers, the 33-year-old sharpshooter is set to join a roster built around a trio of recent lottery picks—Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz—who have combined to play less than 800 minutes. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has ranked dead last offensively in each of the last four seasons.
The Sixers made their one-year, $23 million investment in Redick this summer hoping that his constant off-ball movement, quick-trigger catch-and-shoot acumen, and elite three-point shooting range would help rookie ball-handlers Simmons and Fultz adjust to the NBA level. While often overmatched physically and athletically at the two, Redick is a solid and disciplined defender who brings a level of experience not otherwise found on Philadelphia’s roster. On both sides of the ball, then, this looks like a clean fit between team need and player skillset. Redick hasn’t yet displayed major signs of age-related decline, but playing without the benefit of Chris Paul’s masterful orchestration may alter the perception of the 11-year vet’s staying power. — BG
One thing the Sixers have consistently lacked during their rebuild is a scorer and it seems they've found their guy in veteran guard J.J. Redick. Although $23 million may be a steep number for a lot of skeptics, he not only brings a ton to the offense but also will provide great leadership to the Sixers' young core of players. With Redick projected as the primary shooting guard, the Sixers lineup could have a number of weapons right from tip-off with Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons leading the charge and guys like Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and others providing strong depth for Brett Brown.
