Magic GM Otis Smith talks about why the team decided to match the Chicago Bulls' offer for J.J. Redick. (Photo by Gary W. Green)
That window of opportunity for winning a championship hasn’t closed yet, as far as the Orlando Magic are concerned and it’s part of the reason they chose to keep J.J. Redick, matching an offer that is likely to cost them more than $30 million in salary and luxury taxes over the length of the contract.
Magic General Manager Otis Smith spoke today about matching Redick’s offer, saying Redick’s main boon is that he has a winner’s “DNA.”
“He’s gotten better year after year just because he’s not afraid to put in the work,” Smith said. “Every guy in this league comes through this league, if they’re not top five picks in the draft, they go through a period of time in their career when they all want to be traded. That’s not uncommon.”
Redick was no different. He played in 42 games his rookie season and 34 his second year, starting none, and wanted out. The Magic didn’t trade him and Redick became a gym rat. He’s improved a lot since he first entered the league. Always a great shooter, Redick is now a tough defender as well.
Smith said the discussion about whether or not to match the Chicago Bulls’ three-year, $19-million offer involved some debate money-wise. Because Redick was a restricted free agent, the Magic had seven days to match the offer.
The Magic were already at least $14 million over the luxury tax threshold for next season before matching Redick’s offer worth somewhere around $7.5 to $8 million in its first year.
“When you figure in the tax, it is a big number to chew off over the life,” Smith said. “We look at all of our contracts, who’s coming off when, the flexibility we have. We have to somewhat remain flexible to do other things regardless of what it looks like right now.”
Ultimately, though, the biggest concern was not the financial picture but rather how Redick fit with the team’s mission of winning a championship next season.
“I would think our fans should be excited that we’re doing everything we possibly can to win and not necessarily looking at it from other areas and not necessarily looking at it from the other end,” Smith said. “Teams say we’re holding money for the year 2012 free agency, but we’re trying to win right now. If I’m a fan I’m more excited about that.”
Follow Tania Ganguli on Twitter @taniaganguli or e-mail her at tganguli@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Magic e-mail newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.