Redick slams Pelicans for dishonesty after trade to Mavs

Former New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick (4) against the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

JJ Redick slams Pelicans for dishonesty after trade to Mavericks

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 3/31/21

This year's NBA trade deadline was very busy, with more than half the league making deals. One player who found himself with a new team was JJ Redick, who was traded by the New Orleans Pelicans to the Dallas Mavericks.

Speaking on his "The Old Man and The Three Podcast," Redick admitted that his departure from New Orleans wasn't conflict-free and called out the Pelicans' front office for its dishonesty regarding his trade request.

According to ESPN's Andrew Lopez, Redick had conversations with Pelicans executive David Griffin and general manager Trajan Langdon about being traded in November. The 36-year-old requested a move to be able to see his family more often. His children live in Brooklyn and would have to quarantine for a week when they got back just to see him in New Orleans.

Redick said Griffin promised he would be traded to a team in the Northeast, but the Pels executive ended up trading him to Dallas, which is even further from the Northeast than New Orleans.

- If family came to NOLA, kids would have to quarantine for a week when they got back to Brooklyn
- Says Griff basically told him, "Come down for a month, if you still want out, I give you my word, I'll get you to a situation you like"
- Had 4 convos after this directly w Griff
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) March 31, 2021

Redick: "I look at the buyout situation not as Oh I'm going to get bought and go to Brooklyn. I just wanted to be able to, on an off day, go see my family and be within driving distance."
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) March 31, 2021

@talter asks "Why should any player trust this organization"

Redick: "I don't think you're going to get honesty from that front office, objectively speaking. That's not an opinion, I just don't think you're gonna get that. I don't think what happened with me is necessarily...
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) March 31, 2021

Despite his frustrations, Redick still thanked the Pelicans organization, where he spent the last two seasons.

With the COVID-19 vaccine being rolled out across the country, hopefully Redick gets to see his children on a more regular basis in the coming weeks and months.

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