The New Orleans Hornets are in the midst of making some pretty dramatic changes to their roster. With franchise cornerstones Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram locked up, the organization has expressed an openness to trading Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick.
Thus far, five teams have reached out regarding a potential Ball deal. Similarly, three are viewed as serious contenders for Redick’s services.
One team that has been slept on a bit, particularly as it pertains to a deal for Redick, is the Los Angeles Lakers.
This week, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report suggested L.A. as a legitimate potential destination for the former Duke standout:
Should the Lakers push for more shooting help, they don’t have to confine their search to the clearance section.
The cost obviously grows the moment they leave it but so does the potential reward. While players like Ellington or Bullock might only find minor roles in L.A., a hired gun like JJ Redick could work his way into a lot more.
His off-ball movement could prove magical alongside a quarterback like James, and the mere threat of his shooting (career 41.4 percent from range) could give Davis more breathing room on the interior.
Redick is currently having something of a rough 2020-21 campaign. After putting up 15.3 points in 26.4 minutes per game last year, this season those figures have dipped to 7.9 points in 19.9 minutes per outing. Partially as a byproduct of less playing time, his assist and rebounding totals are at their lowest in a decade, and he is shooting just 29.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Based on the fact that his stock is a bit lower now than it otherwise would be, the Lakers have a perfect opportunity to get a bunch of value in a potential deal for Redick.
Rob Pelinka has proven time and again that he isn’t afraid to make a big move to improve the roster. Will that lead to him pulling the trigger on a potential Redick deal? Time will tell.
More must-reads: