After spending the first seven seasons of his career in Orlando, the Magic sent J.J. Redick to Milwaukee on Thursday in exchange for Tobias Harris, Doron Lamb and Beno Udrih. Redick was one of the most attractive players available at the deadine, but new Bucks coach Jim Boylan will need to be creative with his lineups in order to maximize Redick's value in Milwaukee.
J.J. Redick joins crowded backcourt in Milwaukee
The free agent-to-be will provide some badly needed floor spacing for the Bucks, but will there be enough minutes for him, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis?
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At 6'4 ,190 pounds, Redick doesn't have the size to swing over to the small forward position, which could be an issue on a Bucks roster that features two undersized guards in Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Jennings and Ellis both average 37 minutes a game, leaving a little over 20 minutes a night for Redick.
The deal also creates a hole at point guard for Milwaukee, since Udrih was the main backup to Jennings. Redick, for all his strengths, isn't a point man, and while Ellis is capable of running point in stretches, he's at his best when he's allowed to hunt for his shot with abandon. One possible solution would be to increase the role of Mike Dunleavy, as his size on the perimeter and ability to distribute the ball could be useful next to so many smaller guards.
Either way, Redick’s ability to stretch the floor will be a huge boon for a Bucks team that has struggled shooting all season. Milwaukee currently ranks 21rst in the NBA in 3-point shooting, with Dunleavy their only reserve capable of knocking down a long-range shot.
Redick, in contrast, has maintained a sterling 39-percent mark from behind the 3-point line despite taking six a game for the Magic. In the midst of an incredible amount of turmoil in Orlando over the last two seasons, he has established himself as an above-average NBA shooting guard, averaging 15 points, four assists and two rebounds on 45/39/89 shooting.
He’s set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, which could make for an interesting summer for Milwaukee. Jennings will be a restricted free agent, while Ellis could hit the market as well if he doesn’t exercise his player option for the 2013-14 season.
The move should help the Bucks hold on to the No. 8 spot out East; they currently have a 26-27 record and are 3½ games ahead of the 76ers. However, we won't know until the summer how it affects Milwaukee in the long run.
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