JJ Redick Draft and Lakers Contract in 2006
JJ Redick was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2006 NBA draft and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night, with the Lakers sending cash considerations and a future first-round pick to Orlando. The trade gave the Lakers a sharpshooting guard to complement Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and the move was reported by ESPN and NBA draft trackers at the time 2006 NBA Draft Results.
The Lakers signed Redick to a rookie-scale contract under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, which set a base salary of roughly 1.3 million dollars for his first season, with team options and escalators typical for first-round picks. The deal was structured under the league's rookie pay scale, which limits salaries for first-round selections and is documented in the NBA's official salary cap rules NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Redick's Rookie Season Performance and Role with the Lakers
During his 2006-07 rookie season, Redick averaged 5.9 points per game in 15.1 minutes while shooting 43.7 percent from three-point range, establishing himself as a specialist shooter off the bench for the Lakers. He played 80 games and started 11, often coming off the bench in a sixth-man role behind Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, according to NBA stats archives JJ Redick Stats.
The Lakers used Redick primarily as a spot-up shooter and ball-handler in early-clock situations, fitting him into a system that prioritized perimeter shooting and spacing around Bryant and Gasol. His rookie efficiency and three-point accuracy made him a valuable asset in a league increasingly shifting toward spacing and analytics, a trend later reinforced by front offices across the NBA NBA Three-Point Revolution.
Post-Lakers Career and Executive Role
After leaving the Lakers in 2007, Redick played for the Magic, Clippers, 76ers, and Bucks, eventually becoming one of the NBA's most efficient scorers and a three-time All-Star before retiring after the 2020-21 season with the Bucks. He later joined the Atlanta Hawks as a front-office executive, serving as Vice President of Basketball Operations, a role that reflects his deep understanding of shooting analytics and player development Atlanta Hawks Front Office Announcement.
Redick's transition from player to executive highlights the NBA's growing emphasis on former players with strong basketball IQ and shooting expertise moving into leadership roles, a pattern also seen with other sharpshooters who became coaches or executives. His career arc, from the 2006 Lakers trade to a modern front-office position, is frequently cited in discussions about player development and the business side of basketball NBA Players Turned Executives.