The New Orleans Pelicans traded J.J. Redick and Nicolo Melli to the Dallas Mavericks in what can only be considered a minor move.
They got back James Johnson, Wesley Iwundu and a second-round pick, which actually seems like quite a haul for two guys who were terrible this season and out of the rotation anyway.
Iwundu is unlikely to crack the rotation but Johnson probably will, so this trade will have an affect on the Pels’ lineups and rotations.
Johnson is 34-years-old and had been mostly inactive for the Mavericks going back to the beginning of February, so he is not going to be the Pelicans’ savior.
But that doesn’t mean the trade won’t help the New Orleans Pelicans now and in the future.
New Orleans Pelicans: Losing Redick and Melli is addition by subtraction
With no offense meant personally to Redick and Melli, who both seem like fantastic humans, they were absolutely horrible basketball players for the Pelicans this season.
Both players were supposed to add 3-point shooting off the Pels’ bench but Redick was a hitting a career-low 36.4 percent and Melli made an astounding 18.9 percent of his long-range shots, which is about what I would make in the NBA.
Considering neither of them play defense, the Pels might be better just by getting these two off the bench. I for one will not be sad to see the back of either one of them.
Pelicans: James Johnson might help the defense
The New Orleans Pelicans have the 5th-ranked offense in the NBA but just the 28th ranked defense, so we know where they need to improve.
James Johnson is well past his prime and may be injured (hard to say, as he’s been a healthy scratch since February) so it’s not as if he is going to single-handedly save the Pels’ woeful defense because he’s not.
But he at least brings some toughness, can theoretically back up three different spots and can be the enforcer the Pels lack. I would love to see someone on this team show some spirit and I guarantee Johnson will not stand around while his teammates are getting hacked and punked.
If nothing else, he can be the guy who comes in and gives a hard foul, sticks up for Zion Williamson and adds an element of toughness to a team that desperately needs it.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Redick trade helps the future
The Pels also picked up an extra draft pick, and though it will likely be near the end of the second round, it gives David Griffin more ammunition to move up or to make trades.
The Pelicans now have three second-round picks, which they could potentially use to move into the late first-round if they see a player that they like.
They could also use the picks on raw players or guys from the international scene who might have talent that needs to be developed.
The J.J. Redick trade probably wasn’t the big splashy move that some fans wanted but it should help the Pels somewhat in the short term as well as in the future.