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NBA Trade Rumors: 3 best trade destinations for JJ Redick

By Larry Hammonds

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 24: JJ Redick #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during a NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Smoothie King Center on January 24, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 24: JJ Redick #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during a NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Smoothie King Center on January 24, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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JJ Redick of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
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.

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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.