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NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 best shooting guards available

By Dre Elder

Apr 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dances after hitting a three-pointer during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Hawks won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dances after hitting a three-pointer during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Hawks won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 6, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) shoots against the Boston Celtics during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 6, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) shoots against the Boston Celtics during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

4. J.J. Redick

Raise your hand if you thought J.J. Redick would stick in the NBA when he was drafted in 2006. Let’s be honest. There were a ton of questions about how his skill set would translate to the professional ranks. Can he defend? Can he create his own shot? Is he athletic enough? Many spectators believed all he could do was shoot. Well, that was a long time ago and Redick has since proven he’s much more than a dead-eye shooter.

The former Duke standout has developed a serviceable handle that allows him to create space for his jumper or get all the way to the rim. Redick never morphed into a lockdown defender, but he’s not totally hapless. His Defensive Real Plus-Minus rating was better than teammate Jamal Crawford. Redick also beat out former No.1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins in the same metric despite Wiggins being the far superior athlete. And oh yeah, Redick has quietly been among the best distance shooters in the league over the last three seasons. He’s connected on nearly 45 percent of his 3s during that span. Redick is one of only four players in the NBA to make at least 200 threes in each of the last three regular seasons.

The 33-year-old guard is coming off a season where he averaged 15 points per game in 28 minutes of action. This includes 17 20-point games and one 30-point game as maybe the Clippers’ fourth-best player? The long ball is the name of today’s NBA game and J.J. Redick has a doctorate’s degree in it. Certainly, teams will be calling as NBA free agency gets underway.

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