Bucks Trade For J.J. Reddick | Three Players Move To Orlando

Just four minutes before Thursday's trade deadline, the Bucks finally made the move. Long rumored to be in talks with various teams throughout the league regarding a number of deals, Milwaukee general manager John Hammond announced late that night that they had agreed to terms with the Orlando Magic. Six players will be shifting rosters as a result of the agreement, three from each organization.

J.J. Redick, Gustavo Ayon, and Ish Smith will be suiting up for Milwaukee in return for Doron Lamb, Tobias Harris, and Beno Udrih, who will make their way to Orlando over the weekend. Lamb and Harris were not currently active on the Bucks roster, and Udrih has struggled recently off the bench as a backup guard.

The deal was a mutual success for both organizations, said Magic general manager Rob Hennigan. The first year manager told reporters following the official release that after deliberating for days about the deal, he and his staff decided that the young talent he would be receiving would fulfill what his squad was looking for in this time of rebuilding. Highlighting Lamb and Harris as rookies ready for a chance to play, Hennigan said that they would fit nicely into his plans to build the future Magic roster through the draft and more trades. He is also excited to have Udrih as a true backup to compliment veteran Jameer Nelson at point guard.

Hennigan did admit some hesitation, however. Parting ways with veteran fan favorite Redick was no throw-away matter, said the manager. Averaging a career high in points and goal percentage this season, the seventh-year guard seems to have yet to hit a peak. Though, in his final year of a nineteen-million dollar contract, and with no guarantee of resigning with Orlando, Hennigan would rather get something out of him than nothing.

Is Redick The Answer In Milwaukee?

Redick provides a major pickup for Milwaukee, but also some conundrums for the future. With his improvement this season, the twenty-nine year-old has seen his stature on the market increase significantly over years past. Hennigan cited that as a main concern about the guard's willingness to resign with the Magic, and Hammond will be equally as skeptical.

Unless Redick's progress slows or stops once in Milwaukee, come the off-season, a plethora of big-number contracts will comes his way. If Hammond wishes to retain him for 2014, he had better be prepared to take out his wallet. Despite those future concerns, Redick will likely stay with the Bucks for the remainder of this season.

Already, some critics are calling the move a potential playoff-maker for Milwaukee. With his numbers this season, Redick will add yet another threat in the Bucks back court, combining with the already dangerous duo of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Mike Dunleavy, the team's premier perimeter shot, will also benefit from the addition of Redick, who is shooting near forty-percent from beyond the arc. 

In addition to Redick, Milwaukee also picked up a duo of budding, though inexperienced, talent in Smith and Ayon. The pair are both in their second-years in the league, and have been used as trading-pawns during those seasons. And, while that trend likely won't stop in Milwaukee, both have been promising when they did find time on the court.