The Los Angeles Clippers are not going to spend $18 to $20 million per year to retain the service of sharp-shooter J.J Redick. According to Cameron McDonough of New England Sports Network, the Clips are unlikely to commit big money for Redick mainly because their priorities are Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.
The Chronicles of Redick
Redick isn’t a max-level player, but his exploits as the Clippers best shooter/floor spacer warrants him a pay-hike worth at least $18 million per year. The former Duke Blue Devils standout averaged 15.0 points on 44.5 percent FG shooting and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Redick will turn 32-years old in June, but that does not dissuade suitors from offering good money for a player that shoots 41.5 percent from 3-point line.
Los Angeles Times writer Broderick Turner reported the Clippers are reluctant to shell out more money for Redick, given their salary-cap situation. Los Angeles is already over the cap and could pay more luxury tax next season if they retain Griffin and Paul this summer.
There’s also speculation of a sign-and-trade deal involving Redick and Carmelo Anthony. The Clippers have been eyeing the All-Star small forward for quite some time, and Redick’s new deal could be a key for the blockbuster deal to materialize finally.
Should the Clippers let Redick walk away, cap-rich teams like the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets are expected to line up for his service.
Gay – an alternative wing for Clips
Rudy Gay made himself a target of NBA teams - especially contenders - following his decision to opt out from the final year of his contract with the Sacramento Kings. Averaging 18.4 points on 45.2 percent FG shooting and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc, Gay is an intriguing talent soon to be available in the free-agency market.
Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders put the Clips in the list of three teams (the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics are the other teams) likely to pursue the wing-man this offseason. Again, the Clippers appear determined to re-open trade talks with the Knicks for Anthony, but another meltdown in negotiation could lead Doc Rivers and his front-office team to explore other options in the market.
The 31-year old Gay is coming off a torn Achilles tendon injury, and that makes him a much cheaper acquisition for any team. However, the Clips still don’t have enough money to woe Gay. All they can hope is for him to accept one of their cap exceptions that pay well below his market value.
“Unlike the Thunder, though, any hope of Gay landing in Los Angeles would almost certainly rest on his willingness to sign with the club via a cap exception. The fit is there in Los Angeles, but the mechanics make it a long shot,” per Hamilton.