With the NBA trade deadline scheduled to end today at 3 p.m., Orlando Magics' J.J. Redick says he's prepared to be traded at any given time.
The exhausted and frustrated sharp shooter says he still has no idea what the Magic plan to do, but he's not opposed to a change of scenery, especially if that scenery is of a team that plans to contend for a title.
Asked specifically if he wants to remain with the team through the end of the season, he sighed and said, "There's just too many variables to say that. There's just too many variables. The shortest way to answer that is I wouldn't be disappointed if I end up going to a team that is playing for a championship if that were to happen. Look, if any player is in this situation and they're on a team that's one of the five or six teams in the league that have one of the worst records and they go to a contender, it's not a bad thing.
"If I were to stay here, though, it'd be great."
The uncertainty about Redick's long-term future is one reason why the Magic might not want to keep him beyond the deadline. It's also one reason why teams might not be willing to give away attractive assets for Redick.
The luxury tax penalties that soon will go into effect already are making teams skittish about devoting substantial salaries to non-superstars.
"It can hurt a guy like me," Redick said. "Not just for me, but for free agents this summer, there's a lot of teams with a lot of cap room. You think it every summer: 'Teams aren't going to spend, teams aren't going to spend.' But teams have to spend. It's in the CBA: They have to spend.
"The issue is about what options you have. Can you go to a team that you think has got a chance to win a championship or are they not willing to go into the tax? Are they not willing to pay the repeater tax? Whatever it may be that a team is facing in their financial situation. I'm not speaking about myself; for any free agent, those options are cut off.
"The most valuable players right now are productive players on rookie contracts."
