Report: Pelicans focused on JJ Redick trade with the Celtics and other Atlantic Division rivals

According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic, the New Orleans Pelicans are shopping the 15-year veteran JJ Redick ahead of the trade deadline. In particular, the team is focused on trading him away to the Atlantic Division, possibly choosing between the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.

This season, Redick is averaging 7.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 33.6% shooting from the field and 29.8% from the 3-point line. Those numbers are . . . not great! But it could be reasoned that Redick hasn’t been able to find a groove in a crowded New Orleans backcourt that features young talent that the Pelicans obviously would prefer to develop, including Kira Lewis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Additionally, the Pelicans as a team are struggling overall despite their talent, mustering only a 7-11 record so far.

Over his career, JJ Redick has averaged 13 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, shooting 44.7% from the field and 41.4% from the 3-point line. As recently as last year, Redick averaged 15 points per game on respectable shooting splits, so a team trading for him might not be getting the Redick we’ve seen this year.

Celtics fans got a good look at JJ Redick in his time in Philly. In his second season with the 76ers, he averaged 18 points per game, and that was just two seasons ago. It’s hard to tell if Redick is completely washed up, but each of the teams linked to this report would stand to gain from acquiring him depending on the cost.

For the Celtics, Redick’s $13M salary would fit into the TPE (although the Celtics would have to waive a player for that to happen). This would still leave a decent chunk of the TPE left for the Celtics to use in a different trade, so it might be worth the risk if the team believes that Redick can significantly boost the offense with a strictly 3-point-oriented player off the bench. There’s also appeal to keep him away from two division rivals with potent offensive weapons who would draw attention away from Redick.

However, there’s also plenty of reason to not spend TPE money on a 36 year old shooter who hasn’t been able to shoot this year on an expiring contract.

There’s a lot to consider here, but we may get a resolution quickly if something does happen. February 2nd is the deadline for players to be acquired and then re-packaged in another trade before March 25th’s trade deadline. February 6th is when players who signed free agent contracts in this past offseason can be traded (for the Celtics, that’s Tristan Thompson and Jeff Teague).

Folks, stay tuned.