Unrestricted free-agent shooting guard J.J. Redick will follow point guard Chris Paul out of Los Angeles after he decided not to sign with the Clippers. According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Redick rejected the possibility of staying and signing a new deal with the Clippers, who traded Paul to the Houston Rockets Wednesday.
Earlier, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported that Redick is seeking a contract worth between $18 million to $20 million. The Clippers, for their part, hinted that they will not shell out that kind of amount to keep Redick in their lineup.
The Clippers tried to trade Redick to the New York Knicks before last season’s trade deadline but then-team president Phil Jackson turned it down. A 12-year veteran, the 32-year-old Redick averaged 15.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season, making 42.9 percent of his three-point shots. In 690 career games with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and the Clippers, Redick averaged 11.9 points and shot 41.5 percent from three-point range.
Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers to pursue Redick
The Brooklyn Nets have expressed strong interest in signing Redick, who owns a condominium unit in the area. He is also working out alongside Nets point guard Jeremy Lin in the offseason at the HSS Training Center.
The Nets have been trying to add a shooter of Redick’s caliber. In four straight seasons, Redick has averaged 40 percent or above from beyond the arc, including an NBA-best 47.5 percent in 2015.
The Philadelphia 76ers are also looking to surround their young players Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz and Dario Saric with a veteran shooter like Redick.
Speculations about Redick joining the 76ers grew when he was spotted with Embiid together last weekend at Steve Nash’s soccer event in New York.
The 76ers only have small forward Robert Covington as their pure outside threat but his shooting percentage dipped last season, making just 33 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
In 2015, Covington shot 35 percent and 37 percent two seasons ago.
Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson wooing Redick to join
Jordan Clarkson of the Los Angeles Lakers also started recruiting Redick by tweeting “come across the street bro” but he deleted it hours after. The Lakers already have a new center in Brook Lopez and a new playmaker in rookie Lonzo Ball but they lack the outside shooting that Redick provided the Clippers for four years. However, the Lakers top brass are looking for players who are willing to sign short-term deals this summer and Redick is aiming to ink a long-term deal.
