The New York Knicks took a risk when they traded for Cam Reddish ahead of last year’s NBA trade deadline. He needed to get the level of opportunity he wanted with the Atlanta Hawks, and the Knicks’ management saw something they liked and took the chance. It hasn’t worked out for either Reddish or his team.
As the NBA trade deadline, it appears that Reddish will be on the move. He’s set to reach restricted free agency in the upcoming offseason, and without a viable fit for either him or the Knicks in the current situation, it would be a waste to drag this thing on beyond Feb. 9.
Sometimes, potential can be a mirage. Everyone loves potential. It’s exciting. At the same time, you don’t want to invest too much in it if it hasn’t looked likely to be met. The same holds true for NBA teams. Throughout the league, there are plenty of players who are seen as having potential. If they’ve been in the NBA for a few years, they may simply not meet it.
For example, look at Cam Reddish. He’s been saddled with the “potential” label since he was in high school. Unfortunately, after six seasons in the NBA, it’s looking increasingly likely that he won’t make good on that potential.
Plenty of teams would surely appreciate the opportunity to see if they can tap into Reddish’s potential. With an expanded opportunity, perhaps it can work. Should the LA Clippers gamble on it anyway?
NBA Analysis Network Trade Scenario
New York Knicks Receive: G Jason Preston, G/F Brandon Boston Jr.
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: G/F Cam Reddish
With that said, if Reddish is a bust, he’ll be far from the first one in NBA history. It’s an unfortunate reality of sports. In all likelihood, it’s unavoidable. As long as there are professional sports, people will be interested in the players in the pipeline.
Sometimes we get it right. Look at LeBron James. The whole world said he’d be a generational player, and he’s been a generational player. Other times, we get it wrong. Look at Emoni Bates of Michigan State. Two years ago, he was a consensus top-2 pick – now, he’s not a consensus first-rounder.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cam Reddish, New York Knicks & LA Clippers Updates
If there’s a team with a good ecosystem to get the most out of Cam Reddish, it might be the Clippers. With Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to learn from and many games to play while one or both of them miss, there’s a good blend. Could the Clippers provide a scenario where Reddish meets pre-draft perceptions?
In asking why a good team would trade for Reddish, we shouldn’t ask what Reddish is. We should ask what he’s supposed to be. In theory, Reddish is a 3-and-D wing who doubles as a secondary shot creator. At this point, he’ll never be a superstar. Still, an Andrew Wiggins-like trajectory shouldn’t be out of the question.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cam Reddish, New York Knicks & LA Clippers Updates
This deal has the Clippers gambling on that trajectory. Reddish won’t turn into Wiggins overnight, but if he can start trending that way, he’ll impact this team more than Preston or Boston Jr. That’s a larger part of the equation here. This deal has the Clippers bringing in a potential contributor at the cost of two players who aren’t in their rotation. If Reddish doesn’t develop, they don’t lose anything. Do the Knicks gain anything by acquiring those players?
The Knicks use similar logic here. They’re not using Reddish anyway – why not trade him? Perhaps they’d like a more lucrative return. Too bad. That’s what happens when you don’t play a guy – they lose trade value.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cam Reddish, New York Knicks & LA Clippers Updates
This is still a valuable return. Boston Jr. is another player with high potential. Granted, he’s got a low floor that kept him from being a top prospect in his draft. That’s fine. The Knicks might as well gamble on him – again, they aren’t gambling on Reddish, anyway. The potential for this player and team to mesh feels like it’s not going to be met.
