It’s been made clear that the Lakers won’t have much cap space this summer, but it’s fun to think that players would take less money to sign with the team.
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The latest candidate is current Bucks guard and free agent J.J. Redick, who was traded to Milwaukee from Orlando at the trade deadline this season and would be an ideal candidate for Mike D’Antoni’s system.
Gery Woelfel of the Milwaukee Journal Times suggest Redick looks to be moving on:
“There is growing sentiment Bucks backup guard J.J. Redick, who is an unrestricted free agent, will sign with another team in July”.
With the Lakers bench being as bad as it was last year, Redick would be a huge upgrade over Jodie Meeks at the backup shooting guard position.
Where He Fits With the Lakers:
Unlike Meeks, Redick can create his own shot as well as be a pure spot-up shooter. This season, Redick shot 43 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arc.
Redick would give the Lakers an instant scoring option off the bench and while Kobe rehabs from his Achilles injury, he would do a nice job in the starting lineup. Plus, if the Lakers are to re-sign Dwight Howard, Redick would have a familiarity with him and his ability to pass out of the post.
In averaging 14.1 points last season, Redick established a career high in points this season as he’s come into his own as an NBA player.
Likely Suitors:
Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz are possible suitors for Redick as both teams desperately need a knock-down shooter. Redick would fit both systems as he would take O.J. Mayo’s place in Dallas and the Jazz didn’t have a good shooting guard all season.
Projected Salary:
$6-9 million
Prediction:
It’d be a stunning turn of events if Redick did indeed find himself donning the Laker purple and gold. He makes way too much money for the Lakers’ salary cap, but he’s exactly what the team needs.
He’s transformed himself into a starting shooting guard in the league and he will sign with a team that gives him the opportunity to start.
