2013 Free Agency: Could J.J. Redick become a Celtic?
This from Racinesportszone.com:
There is growing sentiment Bucks backup guard J.J. Redick, who is an unrestricted free agent, will sign with another team in July."
The Bucks traded for Redick at February's trade deadline, along with center Gustavo Ayon and point guard Ish Smith for guards Doron Lamb, Beno Udrih and forward Tobias Harris. It seemed like Milwaukee was trading for a backup plan as Monta Ellis has a player option for next season that many think he will decline for a long-term deal and Jennings is a restricted free agent. So, it's a little surprising to hear they could lose all three guards with nothing to show for them.
If Redick does leave the Bucks, the Celtics could be a potential landing spot. There was even some buzz about Boston targeting Redick themselves before the trade deadline. The biggest obstacle to acquiring the sharpshooter is the same as any player = money.
If Redick could be signed for the mid-level exception, the Celtics would have a great bench piece who could take over the two-guard spot if Avery Bradley does not start to turn it around offensively. Redick would also be a big upgrade over Jason Terry who could be traded or talked into retirement if Redick were signed.
The mid-level is about as much as the Celtics can spend, however, because they are so hamstrung from rubbing up against the salary cap. No way a player of his talent could be signed to a veteran's minimum deal. If Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce retire, the Celtics could offer more money to Redick, but that would be a bad move, as they would need more help in the front court in losing the two future hall-of-famers at forward.
Odds are he will get a better contract giving him more money than the Celtics can offer because he was having a career year in Orlando before the trade. Redick was averaging 15.1 ppg, 4.4 apg and was shooting 45 percent from the field, all career highs. He's always been a great three-point shooter, 39 percent for his career, but its the assists that really set him apart this year.
Redick showed he can be a legit starting point guard and with more talent around him those assist numbers are expected to go up. Of course, it could also be that he was simply a decent player on a bad team and someone had to score. Redick's next team will find out which it is, just don't expect it to be Boston.
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