LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: J.J. Redick is another perfect target

By Jason Reed

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 09: JJ Redick #17 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after making a three point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter of Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center on May 9, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 09: JJ Redick #17 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after making a three point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter of Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center on May 9, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be active in the free agent market this summer, with one perfect fit being available in guard J.J. Redick.

The Los Angeles Lakers made the move that the front office has been planning to make for two years and finally secured a second superstar to play alongside LeBron James in Anthony Davis.

However, in trading for Davis, the Lakers gave up three players, leaving the roster two spots thinner than it was before. Not only did the team lose two roster spots in the trade but also has seven unrestricted free agents and two restricted free agents to handle this summer.

There is a pretty good chance that at least one or two of those free agents return to the Lakers this summer but the team is definitely going to need to consider external options as well, especially as the front office looks to improve the core around LeBron and Davis.

More from LA Sports Hub

The thinnest area of the roster is now the backcourt as Isaac Bonga (who averaged less than a point per game last season) is the only guard on the roster.

When exploring free agent guards there is one shooting guard that jumps off the page as a potential target: J.J. Redick.

The former Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard has been a pivotal part of the young Philadelphia 76ers team over the last two seasons. Redick has averaged a career-high in scoring the last two years and has shot a collective 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.

He is exactly the kind of off-ball, three-point specialist shooting guard that the Lakers should look to be adding alongside LeBron James. Redick does not need the ball to be successful and has shown in Philly that he can thrive as the third or even fourth scoring option.

The one nitpick about Redick is his defense, which isn’t the best because of his age and size. After such a bad defensive season last year by the Los Angeles Lakers, fans certainly want a better defensive team.

While he is not the prototypical three and D guy the Lakers can simply add a defensive-minded point guard alongside Redick to help pick up the slack and defend the other team’s best guard. The perfect man for that job is Patrick Beverley, who is more than comfortable being the fifth scoring option and the defensive wizard on a title-contending team.

Redick already has a podcast in The Ringer Podcast Network, which is based in Los Angeles and is obviously familiar with LA due to his time with the Clippers.

Next. Two rumored centers should be avoided. dark

All the stars are aligning and as long as the Lakers can meet Redick’s monetary needs, then he should be the starting shooting guard for the team in 2019.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers