Following their season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick had a unique way of explaining their offseason priorities.
“I’ll start with the offseason and the work that’s required in an offseason to be in championship shape,” Redick said. “And we have a ways to go as a roster. And certainly, there are individuals that were in phenomenal shape. There’s certainly other ones that could have been in better shape. That’s where my mind goes immediately is we have to get in championship shape.”
Redick used the word “shape” on four separate occasions in this rather short explanation, clearly showing its importance. Conveniently, one of the biggest reasons the Dallas Mavericks decided to part ways with franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic was because they believed he was in poor shape.
NBA insider Brian Windhorst was asked the question of whether he believes Doncic is capable of reaching the ‘championship shape’ Redick spoke of, and it only seems to help Dallas’ case.
“The Mavericks knew him better than anybody in the NBA, and they thought, ‘No,’ I mean, that’s the thing,” Windhorst began on ESPN’s First Take. “JJ is getting to know him, the Lakers are getting to know him. The Mavericks decided that the answer was no, so yeah, if Luka wants to prove the Mavericks wrong, that’s a different motivation than he’s ever had to prove the Mavericks wrong.”
“The Mavericks have voted with their actions here, they don’t believe he can do it, so JJ making these statements, yes, it seems like it’s putting him on blast, but it’s not more putting him on blast than trading him was,” Windhorst concluded.
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While Redick did not single Doncic out with this comment, it’s hard to imagine the remark wasn’t partially directed at him. So, the motivation is there from the Mavericks, and the challenge from Redick is on record, meaning all that’s left is for Doncic to prove them right or wrong.
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