The New Orleans Pelicans are still fighting to find their way into a playoff play-in spot. With that being said, veteran sharpshooter JJ Redick has been a hot name in trade rumors around the league. This makes sense, as legitimate championship contenders see him as a leader in the locker room as well as an X-factor. His statistics are down this year, averaging nearly nine points per game on 36% shooting from deep, but all teams know what the 36-year-old specializes in.
JJ Redick: Three Potential Trade Packages
Philadelphia Brings JJ Redick Back
The trade: The Pelicans send Redick and Nicolo Melli to the Philadelphia 76ers for Danny Green and Mike Scott.
This trade benefits both teams.
Redick returns to the 76ers, where he already has a strong rapport with stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Coach Doc Rivers also coached Redick on the Los Angeles Clippers for a few years. Redick knows the system and the city and knows exactly what he has to do to contribute. Philadelphia has struggled with shooting for the past few years and having Redick as well as Seth Curry addresses this. Melli is also a strong shooter who will replace Scott as a back-up forward.
New Orleans gets another veteran in Green. Although his shooting has taken a dip compared to years prior, he still brings a similar skillset as Redick. In addition, he’s a solid defender and also on an expiring contract. Scott replacing Melli as a big, tough body is another benefit. Teams get tired of having to defend the likes of Steven Adams and Zion Williamson, and throwing another big man like Scott in the mix gives the Pelicans an extremely tough frontcourt.
New York Amps up for the Playoffs
The trade: The Pelicans send Redick and a second-round pick to the New York Knicks for Kevin Knox.
The Knicks are on track to make the playoffs, so they’ll be entering with a “why not us” mentality. Their team works succinctly, they’re strong on defense and have a few good options on offense. They’ll have no expectations, so there’s no reason to not strengthen the team to make a potential run.
Redick gives them another veteran presence and becomes their de facto sniper. Their guard rotation will look deep with Redick around.
New York has also essentially given up on Knox as it does not seem that he has the potential they once thought. A good spot for him to find himself will be the young Pelicans. Brandon Ingram re-discovered himself there, and although Knox does not have that specific talent, a change of scenery should help. He fits New Orleans’ timeline.
The Rich get Richer with JJ Redick
The trade: The Pelicans send Redick to the Brooklyn Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie.
The Nets have enough talent to win the championship this year, but why not get more?
Dinwiddie is out this season, so Brooklyn can opt to trade him and go all-in for this year. In addition, Redick is on an expiring contract which will open up space for the Nets in the offseason.
Their star power speaks for itself, but having Joe Harris as a starter and Redick filling in for him makes the Nets absolutely lethal from deep. Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant may not even be in the top two 3-point shooters on their team.
New Orleans will get a talented point guard in Dinwiddie who can make a real impact next season. Lonzo Ball has been in trade rumors, and if not traded, he’ll be a free agent this offseason. If New Orleans looks elsewhere, Dinwiddie is a fantastic option to have.
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