The New Orleans Pelicans signed veteran sharpshooter JJ Redick with the hope that he would help lead the Pelicans to a playoff appearance.
That has obviously not happened.
With Zion Williamson yet to step on the floor in a regular season game and the Pelicans stinking up the joint in general with a 12-25 record, Redick is now a prime trade candidate ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.
Individually, Redick is having a terrific season. He is averaging 15.6 points per game while shooting 45.1 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from 3-point range—numbers any contender would welcome on its roster.
What may make Redick somewhat difficult to move is his contract. He certainly isn't overpaid for his production, as he is on a two-year, $26.5 million deal, but the fact that he is earning $13.5 million this season will make him a fairly difficult salary to match.
But that doesn't mean New Orleans shouldn't try to find a taker.
Yes, the Pels did hope to put Redick alongside Williamson at some point, but right now the Pelicans should be more concerned about their future than anything else. Redick is 35 years old, so chances are, he won't be around when New Orleans is finally ready to seriously contend. To be fair, Redick's game will likely age very well, as he does not rely on his athleticism to score points, but the older he gets, the slower he will get, too, and he will become more of a defensive liability. Reddick may also start to lose some lift on his jump shot, which would all but negate his effectiveness.
So, yeah. While the plan was to surround Williamson with shooters like Redick, it might be time to abandon that original scheme, particularly in the case of Redick, who could potentially fetch a nice return between now and next month.
The Pelicans have some nice young talent, whether it's Williamson (whenever he actually gets on the floor), Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball.
But New Orleans could still use some more assets, and it could certainly pick at least one more up if it moves Redick.
I mean, there has already been talk that the Pelicans could move Jrue Holiday, who is younger and is certainly a better all-around player than Redick, so why not send Redick packing, too?
Should New Orleans put Redick on the trade block, there would unquestionably be significant interest in the Duke product, as the NBA has surely seen how devastating his loss has been for the Philadelphia 76ers this season.
Redick's gravity completely changes the complexion of games and messes up defenses. Even if he isn't hitting his shots, the mere threat of him coming around a screen and draining a triple is always there, and it always needs to be accounted for.
That's why JJ Redick would be a very sought-after commodity, and if David Griffin were smart (and he does seem to be a smart guy), he would, at the very least, gauge the trade market for Redick and see what he could get in return.
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