Three ways how LeBron James and Lakers can benefit from JJ Redick’s ex-teammates
JJ Redick's former teammates Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton can alleviate LeBron James' load as Los Angeles Lakers superstar turns 40.
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Los Angeles Lakers traded for JJ Redick's ex-teammates in order to help LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers front office was expected to be busy as the trade deadline started to draw closer. Their attention was on fixing the glaring holes in their lineup if they are to help a now 40-year-old LeBron James ahead of the playoffs. One of the avenues they took was to ask head coach JJ Redick for opinions.
His opinions mattered as he was the one drawing up the gameplan and needed players who would fit his schemes. That meant, specific players with specific skill sets that would be more beneficial than players currently on their roster.
One of those players whose skills seemed to be redundant to Redick’s schemes was D’Angelo Russell. The star guard bounced back this season after the playoff embarrassment from last season. But his scoring was not of much help unless he was going to improve his focus on defense.
His focus on scoring also meant the team did not have a second playmaker once LeBron James and the rest of the starters rested. The Lakers front office then worked on JJ Redick‘s suggestions to bring in two of his former teammates, Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to address two major concerns.
Help for their leaky defense
During their tumultuous 3-8 stretch during the closing stretch of November to the opening two weeks of December, the Lakers showed the team lacked in certain areas. Their scoring has since been addressed as the team has improved their efficiency.
However, that bad stretch showed that their defense was leaky at best when fellow playoff contenders hammered them. It left the team searching for answers even if they did not have many options. That is where Dorian Finney-Smith comes in.
The 6′ 7″ wing is known more for his defensive proficiency than his offense. With team offense steadily improving, the Los Angeles Lakers brought him in with the intention of stemming that leaky perimeter. Redick has played alongside Finney-Smith to know what he brings.
Expect him to sub in for some of the guards or even LeBron James when the star needs rest. During that time, Anthony Davis and the rest of their starters can focus on scoring. That need to give their 40-year-old veteran rest on the defensive end should bode well for the long run.
Taking care of LeBron James’ playmaking while he rests
The Lakers live and die by the four-time league MVP’s game managing skills. His array of passing is next to no one, and his peers are often left flat footed trying to dissect his next move. But at age 40 he needs rest and that is where Shake Milton comes in.
The guard is now on his fifth team in less than two years. But that should not take away from the fact that he was brought in with a vision in mind. Another of Redick’s former teammates, the 6′ 5″ guard has size and playmaking skills to go along with his recently rejuvenated scoring streak.
In fact, the plan seems to be to make him the primary playmaker when LeBron James sits. The fact that he was brought in suggests the first-year head coach has thought out how to use him. This Lakers team plays well and wins games when they run their offensive sets well.
When the oldest player in the league is on the bench, they usually resort to one-on-one basketball, where Russell thrived. But that has allowed opposing teams to cut down on any deficits or even extend a lead. Milton gives them the opportunity to continue executing their sets.
Crucial trades give Lakers more flexibility
It might be difficult to explain why the Lakers gave up three second round picks to bring in these two role players. D’Angelo Russell is an All-Star caliber player but is on an expiring contract and did not show enough improvements to warrant a massive salary next season.
By trading him out, the franchise managed to eke out some additional cap space, good enough to target a veteran or two. With the trade deadline set for February 6th, this gives the Lakers more than a month to review their current squad.
If need be, they can dip further into the trade market and bring in improvements. Moreover, these two additions did not need much scouting considering what JJ Redick knows about them. This trade looks like a win-win deal on paper, but how it pans out only time will tell.
The goal is to bring down LeBron James’ minutes and conserve his energy for the playoffs. January will be a good litmus test as they will mostly play at home against a mix of average as well as playoff opponents. That will give the Los Angeles Lakers a proper understanding of where they need further improvements.
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Joseph Varghese
(2163 Articles Published)