Magic to consider matching Bulls' offer for Redick
The Bulls' free agent pursuits took a break Saturday as they wait to see if Orlando will match a three-year $20 million offer sheet given to guard J.J. Redick.
The Magic has seven days to match and has been making noise about plans to keep the former Duke star.
"I anticipate us doing it (matching), but I'm not sure," Magic general manager Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. "It's too early. We'll talk about it."
The offer to Redick is front-loaded, with a first-year salary worth an estimated $7 to 8 million. The Magic is well above the luxury-tax threshold, so keeping Redick would essentially cost Orlando at least $14 million next season.
The reason Orlando might think about matching is Vince Carter's contract will likely end after this season. The Magic could let Carter go next summer and might see Redick as his replacement.
After a slow start to his NBA career, the 6-4 Redick picked it up last season, averaging 9.6 points in 22 minutes per game and shooting 40.5 percent from 3-point range.
His playing time increased during the Eastern Conference finals against Boston when he posted 11.2 points per game. Redick, 26, has improved his defense and handles the ball well enough to step in at point guard for short stretches.
Clearly, one of the Bulls' goals is to surround point guard Derrick Rose with more shooters. The Bulls already signed former Utah shooting guard Kyle Korver, who shot better than 50 percent from 3-point range last season.
If the Bulls lose out on Redick, they'll have to move quickly on an alternative. With so many teams opening cap room for this summer's free-agent bonanza, the players have been flying off the shelves, so to speak.
New Jersey gave an offer sheet worth a reported $12 million over three years to Golden State shooting guard Anthony Morrow, who's knocked down 46 percent of his 3-point shots during his first two seasons in the league.
Among the shooting guards still on the market are Ronnie Brewer, Shannon Brown, Roger Mason, Raja Bell, Keith Bogans and Tracy McGrady.