‘Shocked’ JJ Redick blasts Pelicans over trade saga deception

JJ Redick has trashed the New Orleans Pelicans for going against their word and trading him to Dallas — but two former stars have hit back.

Brooklyn resident JJ Redick will finally join the Mavericks in New York on Thursday and will hold an introductory Zoom press conference.

And Redick will be on the bench when Dallas faces the Knicks at the Garden on Friday – still out with a heel injury.

But he’d rather be on the other side.

Redick, the 15-year veteran and former teammate of Ben Simmons in Philadelphia, vented his disappointment that the Pelicans apparently backed out on their word that he’d be bought out of his contract and be free to sign with a team of his choosing if they couldn’t find a trade partner for him in the Northeast.

Redick, 36, lives with his family in Brooklyn and said he was “jarred,” “floored” and “shocked” about being traded at Thursday’s deadline to the Mavericks with Nicolo Melli.

The Pelicans picked up James Johnson, Wes Iwundu, 2021 second-round pick, and cash considerations.

In comments he made on his podcast Old Man and The Three, Redick ripped Pelicans GM David Griffin for not letting him choose his spot in the New York region.

The Knicks and Nets were each interested in Redick, but only on the buyout market.

“I look at the buyout situation not as, ‘Oh I’m going to get bought and go to Brooklyn,’” Redick said, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

“I just wanted to be able to, on an off day, go see my family and be within driving distance … Obviously, he did not honour his word.”

Jefferson and Horry tell Redick to ‘get over it’

JJ Redick has left New Orleans on bad terms. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

But on ESPN’s The Jump, panellists and former NBA stars Richard Jefferson and Robert Horry had little sympathy for Reddick.

“Really? You thought they were going to send you to the Nets like everyone else? No one cares,” Jefferson laughed.

Horry elaborated: “What have you done for them? Have you won a championship for this organisation? Nope. You don’t get no say where you go. You go where they send you, what’s best for the organisation, not what’s best for you. Get over it. This is the NBA. It’s a business.”

Last week, Griffin told reporters that he tried to trade Redick close to Brooklyn but those teams “were not necessarily the most aggressive in landing him.”

Griffin said he figured the Mavericks would be amenable because they’re a playoff contender and the Pelicans are falling out of the race.

“I think in JJ’s situation we spent the vast majority of the year trying to put him specifically where his family was,” Griffin said.

“This is because of the COVID situation. It’s an unprecedented year and a half in everyone’s life. We did spent a lot of time trying to put JJ closer to home.”

The Knicks are looking for outside shooting at the wing and Redick is a CAA client. Knicks president Leon Rose ran CAA before joining the Knicks one year ago.

Redick said he told Mavericks owner Mark Cuban any other year he’d love to be in Dallas. Just not this one.

JJ Redick wants to play closer to where his family lives.

“I don’t think you’re going to get honesty from that front office, objectively speaking,” Redick said.

“That’s an opinion, I just don’t think you’re gonna get that. I don’t think what happened with me is necessarily an isolated incident. It’s not something where I would expect certainly the agents who worked on this with me to ever trust that front office again.”

When Redick played for the Sixers for two seasons, he drove home from Philly to Brooklyn after games. Would Redick have chosen the Nets over the Knicks?

On a recent podcast in which he hosted Julius Randle, Redick talked about the Garden being his top arena.

“It is what makes the Knicks experience I feel, like, special,” Redick said.

“Playing in New York is amazing. I choose to live in New York City in the off-season. I love the city. Madison Square Garden going back since the McDonald’s All American game, it’s been my favourite arena.”

— New York Post

Originally published as ‘Shocked’ JJ Redick blasts Pelicans over trade saga deception