4. Sign J.J. Redick to a multi-year deal on the taxpayer mid-level exception
It’s not often that a player will seemingly continue to get better at age 34. However, in averaging career highs in both scoring and minutes per game, Redick continued to prove his significant worth in his 13th season in the league.
Again proving his durability in making 76 appearances, Redick averaged 18.1 points per game, while converting at a 39.1 percent clip on a career-high 8.1 attempts per game from long distance. Finishing his second consecutive one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, it would only seem a mere formality that the Sixers would bring back Redick this summer, either on a similar deal or something longer.
However, with another couple of key free agents to take care of in Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, there’s every chance that the side effect of bringing back these two on longer and more lucrative deals means there is little to be left for Redick. Furthermore, All-Star Ben Simmons will be due for an extension next summer, further adding to their burgeoning salary cap status.
JJ Redick pours in 34 points including six made threes! #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/GHRS4wLxXE
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 9, 2019
Enter the Heat, who, while having salary cap issues of their own, could find the addition of player such as Redick as simply invaluable. Entering the season, the Heat are now of course without the retired Dwayne Wade, and very possibly, Udonis Haslem. The addition of Redick would not only provide the team with the potent 3-point shooter it is clearly lacking, but also an excellent, stabilizing presence in the locker room.
Given the stage in Redick’s career, and the fact he has been on one-year deals the past two seasons, the lure of a three-year deal, via the taxpayer mid-level exception — especially when you take into account the absence of a state income tax — could be enough to get Redick across the line.