The LA Clippers are in the midst of a new era in their franchise, having lost nine players and added another nine this past offseason. When looking at the Clippers' most successful four-year stretch in team history, however, one has to look no further than shooting guard J.J. Redick.
Redick joined the Clippers after agreeing to a sign-and-trade as part of a three-team deal with his former team the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns during the summer of 2013. In what was one of the first moves by Doc Rivers as the President of Basketball Operations, Redick agreed to a four-year deal with L.A. and joined a championship contending team that already had a young Blake Griffin and had just re-signed Chris Paul to a five-year deal.
In his four years with L.A., Redick averaged 15.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists on 46.6 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc. He finished with a 179-87 regular season record with the Clippers, but had an 18-22 playoff record.
Unfortunately, four 50+ win seasons and a list full of personal as well as franchise records were marred by early playoff exits and disappointments. This past summer, Redick and the Clippers decided to go their own separate ways, a bad taste left on the tip of their tongues and a mission to bring a championship to L.A. incomplete.
On Monday night, Redick made his return to Los Angeles, this time with his new Philadelphia 76ers squad, to take on the team he had played 306 regular and postseason games with in the last four seasons.
“I think it’ll be a little surreal tonight coming back for the first time as a visiting player,” Redick told ESPN's Lawrence Murray at the team's morning shootaround. “Similar to how it was my first time coming back to Orlando.”
Before taking on his former player for the first time, coach Rivers was asked to look back and talk about Redick's time with the Clippers, and Rivers had nothing but good things to say about the shooting guard.
“J.J. was the first guy that I went after and I thought that what we saw in him is what he ended up doing,” said Rivers. “His career took off here. We put him in great positions and he took advantage of it. He was terrific for us. I thought he was far more for us than just a shooter. I think people just gave him credit for making shots.
“I think his way of playing was infectious and I don't think he got enough credit there. Not just his shooting, but his energy level. When J.J. missed a practice, practice was bad. When J.J. missed a game, our energy was low. It had nothing to do with him making shots, it had to do with how he played. When he's not here, you miss that for sure.”
While the regular season success didn't translate to postseason success, Redick did leave his mark on the Clippers franchise. He currently holds the team record for most three-pointers in a season. He initially set the record during the 2014-15 season, knocking down 200 three-pointers on 458 attempts. He followed that up with another 200 three-pointers on 421 attempts in the 2015-16 season, and then set the franchise and personal record again during the 2016-17 season with 201 three-pointers.
While Redick initially expressed interest in a return to the Clippers early in the final year of his four-year deal, both sides clearly saw the end of the road as the season progressed and the team's lack of size as well as length at the wing position became evident.
“I don't know if I was surprised we were together that long because we had a lot of success as far as winning,” added Rivers. “We were just never the winner. We did go through a lot the last four or five years. We've been through a lot of what I'd call stuff or clutter. We also were every good. I don't know if I was surprised or not that we stayed together long or maybe not long enough.”
In the end, Redick went to a team that really wanted him, a situation that fit him perfectly, and a place where he can continue to raise his family all while getting paid handsomely. Meanwhile, the Clippers completely retooled their roster around Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in hopes of staying in the playoff hunt and building towards becoming a championship level team. Despite the breakup, Redick also has nothing bad to say about his time in Los Angeles with the Clippers.
“When you’re in a place for a long time, there is a familiarity and a comfort level you have,” added Redick. “Looking back at my four years here, they were wonderful.”
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