Redick, Ball: These aren’t the guards you’re looking for, move along

The New Orleans Pelicans guards — particularly Redick — are not Boston’s only hope.

There’s a lot of buzz around a potential trade by the Boston Celtics for veteran New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick, but the seasoned sharpshooter isn’t the sort of player the Celtics should be after — nor should Boston be focused on his younger teammate Lonzo Ball.

And while the reason noted in the Celtics media sphere regarding the latter is that Redick’s shooting has been anything but sharp so far this season, why Boston ought to avoid both Pelican guards on the trade market has as much to do with future seasons as this one. The advantage the Celtics have over potentially competing Atlantic Division rivals linked to Reddick is that they have a $28.5 million traded player exception (TPE) that could absorb his money outright.

The theory goes that this could be the move to beat out the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers with perhaps some mediocre assets attached, but this is an error in thinking.

The TPE represents the Celtics’ biggest and most important asset to improve a team that will need to remain supple in how it can adapt in seasons well beyond this one, and dealing for an expiring contract is the exact opposite of what Boston needs to be considering.

There is at least a case for teammate Lonzo Ball given his Bird rights, but it would need confirmation of willingness to stay with the team, and even then he is not the sort of difference-make the Celtics should target with such a critical resource.

Neither play a position of particular need, and Redick — who is 36 years old and about as lethal this season as C-3PO was in Star Wars — might not warrant a minimum deal if he doesn’t fix what ails him.

Given age may be the issue and that the sands of time (or is that Tatooine?) yet to be defeated, it’d be negligent to use such an important tool on that player, and a poor bet on any who could walk without a very solid boost to the team’s title odds, which neither represent.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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