The Milwaukee Bucks’ trade for J.J. Redick won’t help their playoff hopes. (Photo by Paul Gorbould/Flickr.com)
The Milwaukee Bucks acquired shooting guard J.J. Redick, center Gustavo Ayon and point guard Ish Smith from the Orlando Magic for forward Tobias Harris, and guards Doron Lamb and Beno Udrih at the trade deadline on Feb. 20.
The trade has worked out well for the Bucks. Redick has fit in well with the team, averaging 13.3 points a game in his six games with Milwaukee. His only bad game was in a 117-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on March 6, when he scored only three points.
Ayon and Smith are a different story. Ayon only played two games for the Bucks, while Smith has only played one.
The main focus of the trade was for Redick. Redick can back up Monta Ellis effectively and provides another deep threat for the Bucks.
However, the trade won’t affect their playoff fate.
At 32-29, they hold the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks should be able to fend of the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers trail nine games behind the Bucks, while the Raptors are 8.5 games behind. That isn’t the problem, though. The issue lies with who they would face.
The Bucks would take on the Miami Heat in the first round, a nightmare for any team. Matchups would cause havoc for Milwaukee. Ellis and Redick would not match well with Dwyane Wade. They’ll also have trouble with MVP candidate LeBron James. As a team, the Bucks’ defense ranks 10th in the NBA.
They are no match offensively, ranking 21st in total offense. Their 98.5 points per game ranks them 12th. Compared to the Heat, it’s no contest.
The Heat ranks second in total offense and 11th in total defense. They score 103.5 points per game, five more than Milwaukee.
Their bench isn’t as deep as Miami’s. The Bucks’ acquisition of Redick helped, but not enough to compete with Miami.
Milwaukee will struggle against the Heat if they make it in the playoffs. Redick won’t make a difference. The Bucks would receive an early exit from the Miami Heat if they collide.