clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

J.J. Redick trade rumors: Magic guard wants to stay in Orlando

Many expect the Magic to trade their young SG before his contract expires at the end of the season, but he wants to stay in Orlando for the long-term.

By Jonathan Tjarks
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Almost as soon as Dwight Howard was out the door, speculation and trade chatter began building around J.J. Redick, whose set to enter free agency at the end of the season.

However, an unexpectedly strong start to the 2012 season may weight on the 26-year old shooting guard in the off-season, as he told the Orlando Sentinel that he likes the direction the franchise is headed in:

"Chelsea (J.J's wife) and I, we love it here," Redick said. He also said he's committed to Orlando "as long as we're going the way we're going," meaning taking the steps necessary to contend.

However, even if he wants to stay on a rebuilding team, Redick may end up being the victim of his own success.

To win in the NBA, you can't rebuild from the back of the lottery, as new Orlando GM Rob Henningan knows from his time with the Thunder. You have to be bad enough so that you can get multiple Top 5 picks, which means losing a lot of basketball games.

Redick is having the best season of his career, averaging 14 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds on 45/37/92 shooting. As a result, he's helped Orlando go 12-13 to start the season.

If they keep winning at this pace, Henningan might have no choice but to deal Redick at the deadline.

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.