Michael Jordan dominated his era to the extent that he established himself as the GOAT. As the years have passed, people keep trying to imagine how Jordan would do in the modern NBA. JJ Redick put that experiment to the test by building a nine-man lineup around MJ with a $195 million salary cap to compete this season.
Redick used the $195 million limit by aggregating the five biggest payrolls of the season. He built his starting lineup with just $143.1 million used, which is well under the NBA salary cap as well. He then used $39.9 million on four bench players to complete the roster, spending a total of $183 million. He said he would use the remaining $12 million to fill out the roster with three minimum-level signings.
Starting Lineup: Michael Jordan ($51 million), Derrick White ($18.3 million), Mikal Bridges ($21.7 million), Jalen Williams ($4.5 million), Nikola Jokic ($47.6 million)
Bench: Alex Caruso ($9.4 million), Royce O’Neale ($9.5 million), Isaiah Hartenstein ($8.1 million), Naz Reid ($12.9 million)
Redick explained why each player would complement Jordan perfectly. He indicated he wanted Jordan to be the primary ball-handler, which led to the selection of Derrick White as the perfect backcourt partner for Jordan as he can take on secondary ball-handling responsibilities but most importantly, serve as the perfect off-ball complement to Jordan through defense and stretching the floor. Alex Caruso fits that mold as a bench guard as well.
His forwards, Jalen Williams and Mikal Bridges have different skill sets. Bridges has shown he can defend at a DPOY level while Williams is already one of the most versatile offensive forwards in the NBA in his sophomore season. Royce O’Neale is the perfect backup wing to provide 3-and-D play.
Nikola Jokic is the best choice for a center, as his pass-first style of play would highlight Jordan as a cutter and off-ball movement. Jokic as a scorer alongside Jordan would be even more lethal, making this the best duo in the NBA easily. The bench with a do-it-all big like Isaiah Hartenstein and a shooter and high-effort rebounder like Naz Reid is perfect if two-big lineups need to be used.
How Many Championships Would This Team Win In Today’s NBA?
This is a fierce lineup. Squad building in the NBA rarely is linear enough to work out this perfectly, but the squad Redick constructed would dominate today. Even if it didn’t have the GOAT in the starting five, there are many supermax-level players in the NBA today that could be put into this lineup and form a dynasty alongside Jokic.
The roster built by Redick has so many options on both ends of the ball at all times that it’s hard to imagine anyone outplaying them. If a backcourt of Jordan and White wasn’t hard enough to score on, their bench guard is Alex Caruso. If players like Caruso or O’Neale sink the offense with inconsistent shooting, they can easily be subbed out for the starters that provide high-level play on both ends.
Even if we pit the 2023-24 Celtics against this team, a roster on pace for 65 wins this season, Redick’s team with Michael Jordan would sweep them without question. Unless injuries ravage this roster, there is no way they can be beaten over a seven-game series given the current teams in the NBA.
Redick said Jordan would have the same contract as Stephen Curry, which lasts for another three seasons. If this lineup could be a reality today, it would genuinely lead to Jordan’s third three-peat in his career before he even has to re-sign.
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