Free Agency Wish List: J.J. Redick’s shooting is badly needed by the Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers can use more shooters on their roster next season, and soon to be free agent J.J. Redick fits that bill perfectly.

The Indiana Pacers muddled their way to a 42-40 record this season before finding themselves swept out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Needless to say, they need to retool for the 2017-18 season. Upcoming free agent J.J. Redick would be a perfect addition to the team.

Please note Reddick is merely on my wish list as I look over this offseason’s free agents but  Indiana has a few dollars to spend this offseason, so let’s look at why J.J. would be a solid investment of that money. If nothing else, keep in mind why he makes sense, because no matter who they sign, they could use the skills Redick possesses.

J.J. Redick never shot worse than 36.6% from 3-point range in his career, and more importantly, shot over 40% the last three seasons including this year’s 42.9%. Shooting is one of the few skills that ages well in the NBA, and even at 32-years-old, that should continue in the coming years as well.

One of the Pacers’ problems last season was a lack of reliable 3-point shooting. They were 27th in attempts despite several players shooting above 35% from beyond the arc. Indiana may have had a decent percentage (13th in the NBA), but the volume was lacking. Outside of C.J. Miles, Paul George, and Jeff Teague, no one shot more than two a game.

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That’s where a shooter like Redick could fit in perfectly. He plays defense well and more importantly for Indiana, he averages 6 3-point attempts a game. That’s more attempts than Brooks, Glenn Robinson III, Monta Ellis combined.

Redick is a bit of an outlier as he is 24th in 3-point attempts according to Basketball-Reference, but once you get past George (14th), Miles (31st), and Teague (142nd), the next Pacer is Brooks at 213rd.

The lack of 3-point attempts wouldn’t be as big of an issue if Larry Bird hadn’t gutted the defense in hopes up picking up the pace — which didn’t work out. The Pacers need someone who shoots from beyond the arc often and with accuracy. That’s why Redick makes sense.

Except one problem.

Redick wants $18-20M a year according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. While Indiana will have cap room this offseason, they won’t have a massive amount to spend. Right now it looks like around $17M. That budget gets smaller if they retain C.J. Miles via free agency, who is one of their few shooters.

Unless the Pacers can find cap room by making trades, Redick looks too pricey for the Pacers. Indiana needs his skill set, but they may need to find a poor man’s version of Redick instead. One way or another, they need more shooters.

Next: Pacers participating in NBA 2K esports league

Editor’s note: Yes, I left out Lance Stephenson in these example because I don’t think he is going to make 62.5% of his 3-pointers like he did in his six regular season games with the Pacers.