The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly will not extend Cam Reddish a qualifying offer. This means Reddish, the 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Portland acquired Reddish in a trade deadline swap that sent Josh Hart to the New York Knicks, but will now likely let him walk as a cap casualty. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports Reddish is likely to have an active market as teams see untapped potential in Reddish.
The Portland Trail Blazers are not expected to extend Cam Reddish a qualifying offer, sources told @hoopshype. Portland is up against a looming luxury tax crunch. Reddish, who several executives believe has untapped potential, would enter the market as an unrestricted free agent.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 28, 2023
Cam Reddish Free Agent Profile
Background
Originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019 NBA draft, Reddish has suited up for three teams in four years. In his first two seasons, he averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 27.4 minutes per game in 85 games (55 starts). His game improved in Atlanta the following year as he averaged a career-best 11.9 points and 37.9 percent from three before the trade to New York.
Reddish wanted a bigger role and a change of scenery. While he got the change of scenery halfway through his third year, his playing time diminished in New York. In Atlanta, he averaged over 24 minutes in 34 games. However, he played 14 games and averaged just over 14 minutes per game as a Knick.
Reddish’s sporadic playing time continued into the 2022-23 season, where he was eventually benched in early December after he expressed displeasure to a Knicks assistant coach about how head coach Tom Thibodeau was using him.
Reddish played his last game for the Knicks on December third, and the team traded him to Portland in February. Reddish averaged 11.0 points and 2.9 rebounds for Portland in 27.6 minutes per game, shooting 44.3 percent overall and 31.8 percent from three.
Portland declined to extend a $7.7 million qualifying offer to the former Duke standout. The team is looking to win now with Damian Lillard and would be in tough cap space if Reddish accepted the offer.
Strengths
Reddish will be an attractive free agent option mostly due to his potential that teams will try to unlock. He will be 24 next season and could easily blossom in the right system. He’s flashed great shot-creation skills, athleticism at 6’8″, playmaking, and two-way upside.
Reddish is a career 39.9 percent field goal and 32.2 percent three-point shooter while averaging 10.3 points, 1.4 assists, and 3 rebounds a game. Last season, he improved his two-point game immensely and knocked them down at a 56 percent clip. His production has not been great, but he’s done enough while displaying talent to believe there’s more to unlock.
Young two-way wings are not easy to find. In the right system and with the right coaching staff, it’s easy to see his potential and forecast how he can elevate his game.
Weaknesses
In four years in the league, at least two different teams didn’t trust Reddish with an expanded role. He hasn’t been able to turn his skills and potential to on-court results, and at some point, one has to wonder if he ever will.
Reddish has struggled with consistency throughout his career, going back to college. It’s one reason that he’s struggled to unlock his potential and earn the trusts of coaching staffs. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, but has never shown that it’s anything more than that.
Additionally, injuries have slowed his progress throughout his career. After his only year at Duke, Reddish needed surgery on a core muscle right before the draft. In 2020-21, achilles soreness limited him to just 26 games. Following the trade to New York, Reddish missed two weeks due to an ankle sprain. He then suffered right shoulder injury that March and missed the remainder of the season.
In May 2022, ESPN’s Seth Greenberg described Reddish as the “ultimate tease” in an interview with the New York Post.
“He seduces you with the things he does,’’ Greenberg said. “But he doesn’t do those things on a consistent basis. He should be a really good defender but he’s not consistent. He looks like he should be a good shotmaker but doesn’t shoot with consistency. He doesn’t play through contact the way you’d like to see him play through contact. Those are the ‘ifs’ in his game.”
The Post article also mentions that some question Reddish’s maturity and wonder if he has the “unselfishness” to thrive in a winning system. Reddish was a polarizing draft product, and he’ll likely be a polarizing free agent.
Potential Fits
The Los Angeles Lakers make sense as a destination for Reddish. Assistant coach Phil Handy has a great player development reputation. If he can work with Reddish and unlock consistency, then the Lakers’ chance at a title become even stronger. Additionally, LeBron James sets the culture in that locker room. If Reddish can’t buy in and mature under that structure, then he might never.
Reddish’s profile makes him a great target for most rebuilding clubs. The Detroit Pistons make an interesting fit. With a young, high-upside core and a new head coach, the Pistons want to start winning more games. Rumors continue to swirl about the team making a big offer to Cam Johnson. Though this is currently unlikely, Reddish represents a decent high upside backup option.
Monty Williams has a reputation as a player’s coach. Perhaps he implements a new system in Detroit that gets the most out of Reddish. If so, Reddish might establish himself as a piece of the next winning core. Another option sees Reddish once again being a trade deadline piece, allowing Detroit to further collect future assets.
Reddish will have perhaps the most upside as any free agent available this summer.