DALLAS – No schedule has been determined for JJ Redick to join the Dallas Mavericks, as the team intends to allow the veteran escort to exercise on his own while recovering from a non-surgical procedure in the Dallas. right heel that has set him aside since the All-Star retreat.
The Mavericks acquired Redick along with New Orleans Pelicans pivot Nicolo Melli for winger James Johnson and Wesley Iwundu, a second-round pick and cash considerations in a deal agreed minutes before Thursday’s change deadline.
“We want to make sure the heel is at 100%,” Mavs basketball operations president Donnie Nelson said. “This is more of a situation where we’re going to have a chance to get him to train and then, slowly, when he’s comfortable, he integrates and comes to Dallas.”
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said Redick told him Friday that the heel is “progressing,” but he wasn’t sure of a potential schedule to be ready to play.
The Mavs value 36-year-old Redick’s shooting and postseason experience. Redick, who averaged 8.7 points in 31 games for the Pelicans this season, has shot up 41.5% from the three-point range in his career and played in 110 postseason games.
Redick, 36, who has 110 games of playoff experience, was considered a likely candidate to receive a resignation. In that case, the Brooklyn Nets would have been the big favorites to sign Redick, who maintains a home in Brooklyn.
“I think the preference would have been, in a buying situation, to be able to choose your situation, but it didn’t happen that way,” Nelson said. “So I think he’s very excited. He told me Luka [Doncic es] one of his favorite players, and that Luka had a chance to exchange text messages with him, as did Dirk [Nowitzki]”And I think he’s really excited to come to Dallas.”