Use your ← → (arrows) to browse
JJ Redick of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Pelicans have gotten off to a forgettable 5-10 start through the first 15 games of the 2021 NBA season. JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball have played a large part in the team’s struggles but are not the only ones failing to play up to expectations.
Yesterday afternoon, Shams Charania of The Athletic (paywall) reported the New Orlean Pelicans have been receiving calls inquiring about the availability of Lonzo ball and veteran sharpshooter JJ Redick. Not only are the Pelicans fielding calls, but they’re said to be open to moving both if they can strike the right deal.
After starting the season with a 4-2 record, the Pelicans have lost eight of their last nine games, currently sitting at 14 in the Western Conference standings. Suffice to say, that’s not what general manager David Griffin had in mind when he hired Stan Van Gundy to take over as head coach and signed Brandon Ingram to a max extension.
Changes are almost certainly coming, they may not necessarily affect the short-term outlook for the franchise, but they will help aid the long-term goals. The Pelicans never expected to contend for a title with this roster, but they certainly expected to be in the playoff discussion.
One month into the season and teams now have a pretty good idea of what their rosters are capable of and what holes need to be filled, with a few exceptions due to teams dealing with injuries and players or teams missing so many games due to the ongoing pandemic.
PELICANS WILL BE SELLERS IN TRADE MARKET
Though there are still roughly four months of regular season basketball left, the Pelicans’ playoff hopes are looking bleak, and this writer expects multiple changes are on the horizon. JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball seem to already be on the trade block, and more names are sure to come.
Both Redick and Ball have gotten off to slow starts this season. Ball is shooting a career-low 29.1 percent from three on a career-high 7.2 attempts per game. He possesses mortifying shooting splits of .389/.291/.583, though he’s averaging a career-high 12 points per outing. His knee issues are still a problem, as he missed three games this season due to bilateral knee tendinopathy.
To say the Van Gundy and Redick reunion hasn’t gotten off to the start that almost everyone expected (including this guy) would be an understatement. The 15-year veteran is shooting a career-low 33.3 percent from the field and a 30 percent from beyond the arc. A career 41.4 percent 3-point shooter, you can likely attribute the marksman’s early-season struggles to not being able to find his rhythm. He’s averaging his lowest minutes, field goal attempts, and points per game since the 2009-10 season.
IDEAL LANDING SPOTS FOR JJ REDICK
With such a big premium on shooting in today’s game, combined with the fact that he’s playing on the final year of his contract Redick is a prime trade candidate, despite his struggles to put the ball through the net this year. Expect many teams to come calling for his services, especially the teams with championship aspirations. Let’s explore some ideal landing spots for the veteran sniper.
<span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> MVP Race Rankings: LeBron rising in the ranks </a> </div>
</div>
<h2>PELICANS WILL BE SELLERS IN TRADE MARKET</h2>
<p>Though there are still roughly four months of regular season basketball left, the Pelicans’ playoff hopes are looking bleak, and this writer expects multiple changes are on the horizon. JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball seem to already be on the trade block, and more names are sure to come.</p>
<p>Both Redick and Ball have gotten off to slow starts this season. Ball is shooting a career-low 29.1 percent from three on a career-high 7.2 attempts per game. He possesses mortifying shooting splits of .389/.291/.583, though he’s averaging a career-high 12 points per outing. His knee issues are still a problem, as he missed three games this season due to bilateral knee tendinopathy.</p>
<p>To say the Van Gundy and Redick reunion hasn’t gotten off to the start that almost everyone expected (including this guy) would be an understatement. The 15-year veteran is shooting a career-low 33.3 percent from the field and a 30 percent from beyond the arc. A career 41.4 percent 3-point shooter, you can likely attribute the marksman’s early-season struggles to not being able to find his rhythm. He’s averaging his lowest minutes, field goal attempts, and points per game since the 2009-10 season.</p>
<h2>IDEAL LANDING SPOTS FOR JJ REDICK</h2>
<p>With such a big premium on shooting in today’s game, combined with the fact that he’s playing on the final year of his contract Redick is a prime trade candidate, despite his struggles to put the ball through the net this year. Expect many teams to come calling for his services, especially the teams with championship aspirations. Let’s explore some ideal landing spots for the veteran sniper.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Philadelphia 76ers </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_400418" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-400418" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1144068701.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1144068701.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1144068701-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px" /><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">JJ Redick (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Trade" data-team-ids="[93,69]" data-team-gets="[["JJ Redick"],["Mike Scott","Terrance Ferguson","Matisse Thybulle","2021 2nd round pick (via NYK)"]]"
> <div class="playertrade remove-native-227"> <div class="trade"> <div class="team a"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2F76ers.png"/>
<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">76ers Get</div> <div class="info">JJ Redick</div> </div> </div> <div class="separator"></div> <div class="team b"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpelicans.png"/>
<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Pelicans Get</div> <div class="info">Mike Scott</div> <div class="info">Terrance Ferguson</div> <div class="info">Matisse Thybulle</div> <div class="info">2021 2nd round pick (via NYK)</div> </div> </div> </div> </div>
</div>
<h2>Ideal JJ Redick destination No.1: Philadelphia 76ers</h2>
<p>JJ Reddick to the Philadelphia 76ers would be one of the most, if not the most, ideal team for him to be traded to and would be another reunion for Reddick in more ways than one. The sharpshooting guard played under Doc Rivers for four of the seven years he was the LA Clippers’ head coach. He also played in Philly for two years before bolting to New Orleans in free agency last year.</p>
<p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/embiijo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Joel Embiid</a> would be excited to reunite with Redick as the pair seemed like a match made in heaven. The pair only played two seasons together, but those two years were arguably when the Sixers offense was at the peak of its powers during the Brett Brown-Joel Embiid-Ben Simmons era. Embiid has publicly raved about his enjoyment playing alongside Reddick and even broke down why on Redick’s podcast <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://open.spotify.com/episode/49awbKNiCcrguS52BBYOo5?si=65JQn0M8TAWue9-Fm6M_tA%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Old Man and the Three</a>.</p>
<p>Reddick’s innate ability to run defenders into screens, relocate off the ball, and knock down shots at an elite rate, opened up the floor for Embiid, and teams weren’t able to double team him as much.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="NBA Quarter Pole Awards: Early season MVP and more" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-quarter-pole-awards-early-mvp/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"
> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-quarter-pole-awards-early-mvp/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> NBA Quarter Pole Awards: Early season MVP and more </a> </div>
</div>
<p>If the opposing defense decided to double, he could always count on Reddick to find a way to get open and be ready for the kick-out pass and an easy 3. If the defense plays honest and leaves a single defender on Embiid, the words of the iconic Shaq, it’s barbeque chicken time. Per to PBP stats, the Sixers had an offensive rating of 115.94 when Redick and Embiid shared the court, compared to 114.71 when Embiid was playing without Redick, and 111.13 when they both were on the sideline during the 2018-19 season (Reddick’s final year with the 76ers).</p>
<p>Reddick has familiarity with the coaching staff, most of the players, as well as the city and fanbase, which should make the transition easy and fruitful. Adding Reddick to a cast that already boasts sharpshooters in Danny Green and Seth Curry is a no brainer for a Sixers team that seems to be all-in on Moreyball.</p>
<p>It isn’t a sexy return, and the Pelicans will likely waive Ferguson. Still, they get a promising young player in Matisse Thybulle, a veteran leader in Mike Scott, and add another draft pick to their treasure chest.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Brooklyn Nets </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421656" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-421656" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1201779757.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1201779757.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1201779757-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px" /><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">JJ Redick of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Trade" data-team-ids="[147,69]" data-team-gets="[["JJ Redick"],["Spencer Dinwiddie","Landry Shamet","2021 2nd round pick (via Indiana)"]]"
> <div class="playertrade remove-native-227"> <div class="trade"> <div class="team a"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/27/nba-trade-rumors-3-trade-jj-redick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fnets.png"/>
