Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G JJ Redick, CLE 2021 2nd Round Pick (via NOP)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
After being a key contributor on the Lakers’ championship team last year, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has continued to be a key perimeter-threat for them this year. He recently signed a three-year, $40M contract extension with Los Angeles in the offseason and has started off the season shooting 47.8% from three-point range, but if the Lakers were to want to acquire Redick, they would have to be willing to part with Caldwell-Pope.
Los Angeles is $2.2M over the tax threshold this season and in order to acquire JJ Redick, who is owed $13M this season, they would have to trade away at least $12.5M in matching salaries. Unless they wanted to trade away their entire bench, that leaves Kyle Kuzma, KCP and Montrezl Harrell as viable contracts who could be traded, meaning Caldwell-Pope would be the odd-man-out.
From the very first time he stepped on the court in the NBA, everybody knew JJ Redick was going to be one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history. At 36 years old now, Redick finds himself 15th on the All-Time Three-Pointers Made List and is a very valuable trade asset for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Given his experiences in the NBA, he knows what it takes to win and has shot 41.4% from three-point range over the course of his career. Basically, the Lakers would have to decide if trading KCP, a high-level catch-and-shoot threat, for JJ Redick, one of the best three-point shooters of all-time, makes sense now and gives them the best chance to win a title this season.
For the Pelicans, with Redick being in the final year of his contract, it makes a lot of sense for them to want to trade him away and will likely be willing to take on KCP’s contract in return. Not only could they utilize him in their rotation now, but could possibly leverage him for more trade assets or young talent if they decide they do not want to keep him after this year.
If this trade was to happen, it could not be made until February 20th at the earliest as a result of KCP signing with the Lakers in the offseason. With that being said, let’s take a closer look as to why this trade makes sense for both the Pelicans and the Lakers.
