New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish hasn’t played since Dec. 3, yet his name keeps getting linked to the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s an open secret that the Lakers have long coveted the underwhelming former lottery pick since the Knicks acquired him from Atlanta in January. Reddish would’ve been a Laker by now if the Knicks didn’t insist on an extra first-round selection in the reported foiled three-team trade with the Lakers and Toronto Raptors at the last trade deadline.
The Lakers continued to be intrigued by Reddish, who had his moments with the Knicks this season when a foot injury sidelined Quentin Grimes.
“There are people within the organization very intrigued by New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish — a 6-foot-8, 23-year-old wing — who would give the Lakers size on the perimeter, a massive need. He’s also a former lottery pick, the kind of reclamation project the Lakers have had some success with this year with a player like Lonnie Walker IV.
League sources say the Knicks are seeking a protected first-round pick for Reddish (they sent one to Atlanta in the deal to acquire him — and the Hawks subsequently used it in their trade for Dejounte Murray). Reddish isn’t currently in the Knicks rotation so the asking price is expected to eventually dip.
There are still evaluators who believe in Reddish’s talent and think that the right teammate — say, someone with the gravitas of James — could unlock the potential teams saw when they tabbed him as a top prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft.”
Dan Woike via LA Times
It’s unclear how Anthony Davis’ right foot stress injury has impacted the Lakers’ plans ahead of the February trade deadline. There are hopes Davis could return as early as January for the Lakers, who have lost their last three games and are now 2.5 games out of the last play-in spot.
Reddish averaged 8.4 points on a career-high 44.6 percent shooting in 20 games, including eight starts, for the Knicks this season before he was shelved for good. He had a string of five straight double-figure scoring games in November that started with a season-high 26 in a 145-135 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
So it’s not a reach that Reddish can flourish in a more conducive environment, a team that would be all-in on him.
The Lakers are that team, given their interest in Reddish and his Klutch Sports connections with James. Reddish could fill in Kyle Kuzma’s role before the Russell Westbrook trade.
The Knicks are gradually losing their leverage in each game Reddish sits out as the trade deadline nears.
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