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J.J. Redick Figures To Be An Ex-Magic Soon - July 10th, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

OK, even J.J. Redick himself thinks his time is about up with the Orlando Magic.

“The writing's on the wall," Redick told the Orlando Sentinel. "The writing's been on the wall for some time."

Redick was referring to the fact that: 1) He barely played last year; 2) the Magic signed free agent shooting guard Mickael Pietrus away from Golden State for $22 million; and 3) Orlando drafted Western Kentucky shooting guard Courtney Lee in the first round this year.

So what is the team waiting for? Why wouldn’t it cut the former Duke sharpshooter loose?

“I still think the kid can play for us,” GM Otis Smith said. “I feel no differently about him today than I felt yesterday and the day before. I feel he can be a very good backup 2-guard for us."

Reading between the lines: The Magic are trying to at least get some value for Redick. But good luck finding a market for a guy who can’t get his own shot, averaged only 4.1 points in 34 games and can’t play a lick of defense.

Yeah, you could say Orlando made a mistake taking this guy No. 11 overall in the 2006 draft.

Redick repeatedly has asked to be traded to another team where he could seek more playing time.

"I spoke with Otis last week and I'm sure we'll speak again," Redick said. "I don't really know, man. Obviously, Otis has the control."

 

Smith stressed that Redick isn't automatically on the way out of Orlando just because of the additions of Lee and Pietrus, while also acknowledging there isn’t a big trade market for Redick. Still, you wonder why Redick can’t succeed like Kyle Korver (a similar player) has in Philly and Utah?

"As I've said before he's not the first guy in the history of basketball whose career has gotten off to a slow start,” Smith said. “And he's not the first guy who has played four years of college basketball and struggled to get on the floor.”

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Pietrus is expected to be the Magic's starter on opening night at shooting guard. The club has lacked a defensive guard, and Pietrus, who played shooting guard, small forward and power forward the past five years with Golden State, gives Orlando that, in addition to rebounding from that spot.

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