J.J. Redick had a bit of a disappointing season after only appearing in a combined 44 games with the Pelicans and Mavericks. The 37-year old marksman will not be able to play starter’s minutes anymore, but as an option off the bench, he is one of the best veterans in the league.
Redick still shot 37.1% from three last year, while averaging a career 41.5%. The modern NBA requires shooting whenever superstars are on the floor, which means Redick is best suited to joining a title contender. Here are the 5 best spots for one of the best shooters in the NBA.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets need Jamal Murray healthy before anything else, but it will not harm to bring J.J. Redick to the squad. The Nuggets re-signed Will Barton and have the reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic on their squad, so the team isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
At the very least, Redick can come in and nail threes because Jokic commands full attention of the defense. Even if Murray misses some time rehabbing his injury, Redick can play a vital role as a floor spacer until the star point guard comes back.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are a team built off shooting, and the returning Klay Thompson will form a dynamic duo with Stephen Curry in the backcourt. There is no doubt that these two players are the best shooters ever, but J.J. Redick is somewhere in the top-10.
A lineup that features Curry, Thompson, and Redick will give defenses headaches because either player is money from deep. Redick can’t create his own shot like Curry or heat up like Klay, but when his stars get him the ball, expect him to be exceptional in making his open shots.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have their core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday intact but they could replace a veteran in P.J. Tucker with another one. Tucker signed a deal with the Miami Heat, and the Bucks will sorely miss that type of veteran experience on their roster.
Redick is nowhere near the defender that Tucker is, but is a much better floor spacer. Tucker only shot 33.6% from deep last year, and with age, has lost his legs when he shoots a jumper. Redick will be the floor spacer that the Bucks will need whenever Giannis Antetokounmpo is double and triple-teamed in the paint.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers completed one of the most polarizing deals over the past decade when they traded for superstar Russell Westbrook. The Lakers are incredibly talented, but the point guard is not a natural fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Westbrook only shot 31.5% from three last season, while James and Davis average below 35% shooting from three over their careers.
The Lakers did a great job bringing in Malik Monk, Kent Bazemore, and Carmelo Anthony for some extra shooting but none of them are natural marksmen. Redick would immediately become the best shooter on the Lakers roster and would make defenses pay if defenses double up on Westbrook, James, or Davis.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets already signed a shooter in Patty Mills, but whenever a roster has Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving; the more the merrier. Redick and Mills would be incredible shooting backcourt and will have a ton of opportunities to let fly in Brooklyn.
While Redick won’t help Brooklyn’s defense, the NBA is becoming a shooter’s league and the Duke legend would help improve one of the best offenses we have ever seen. With Kyrie Irving and James Harden possibly in and out of the lineup next season, Redick would also improve Brooklyn’s depth for a deep playoff run.
