1. The best shooter outside of Golden State
There’s no way J.J. Redick couldn’t lead this Black Friday list. For only $7,377,500 this season, the LA Clippers have the best pure shooter outside of the Warriors’ Splash Brothers in Golden State (Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson if you’re somehow unfamiliar with their work). The only issue is that Redick is heading for a major pay rise in NBA free agency next summer, likely doubling his salary as one of the best shooting guards on the market who continues to play at the best level of his career.
However, we won’t worry about the financial issues that may arise for the Clippers next year. For now, we’ll look at what they do have, and that’s Redick for an absolute bargain.
At $7.37 million, Redick is only the sixth highest paid player on the team, obviously placed behind the Big 3 and now Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers following their big contracts from this year’s free agency. Yet, because of the way things have worked out with Redick getting his last contract in a far lower salary cap climate, he’s an absolute steal right now.
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He had a career year in 2014-15 and improved yet again in 2015-16. Last season, he averaged 16.3 points per game, shot career-highs of 48 percent from the floor and a league-best 47.5 percent from three with 2.7 makes a night. Along with career-highs in PER (17.5) and true shooting percentage (63.2) last season, Redick well and truly emphasized how he’s the perfect two guard for the Clippers’ offense.
Besides being an ideal shooting partner next to Chris Paul and a deadly trailer in transition, Redick operates like clockwork with his tireless off-ball movement around screens and catch-and-shoot threat, creating space around DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin inside. Redick is the perfect complimentary piece to the pick-and-roll play of the Clippers, and with either Paul at point or Griffin having the ability to roll and pass, Redick can always get good looks.
This season, he’s at it again. And his 15.1 points per game looks far better when you see that he’s shooting new career-highs of 48.8 percent overall and 48.1 percent from three. For his efficiency, production and fit, Redick is amazing value. There’s no doubt Doc will try to keep him next year.
Next: Can Chris or Blake win MVP this season?
Happy Black Friday, and keep enjoying the LA Clippers’ 14-2 start.