NBA Free Agency 2017: One signing every team should make

Minnesota Timberwolves: J.J. Redick

Particularly after the addition of Jimmy Butler, many people have talked about the Minnesota Timberwolves now trading Ricky Rubio, or at least casting him aside in the rotation. To me, however, that seems completely asinine. Given the construction of the roster with Butler, a player like Rubio seems like the ideal complement. A strong defender capable of making plays with his passing is perfect to assist Butler, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, much more so than a Jrue Holiday or Kyle Lowry.

So rather than including one of those point guards that many others would, I’m going elsewhere in the form of veteran sharpshooter J.J. Redick. With the departure of Zach LaVine in the Butler trade, the Timberwolves are now even more sorely lacking reliable outside shooting and bench scoring. Though Redick would easily be the elder stateseman in Minnesota, he would be perfect to fill that role in their rotation. What’s more, he’d be a great presence for the situation that the Timberwolves are currently in.

Despite people (myself included) jumping the gun on when they’d make the leap, the Timberwolves should be a playoff team with the addition of Butler. However, if they want more than just a postseason berth, the young players that comprise the core of the team are going to need a stabilizing presence. Both in the locker room and on the hardwood, Redick can provide them that. With the combination of fit from a personnel and personality standpoint, it’s hard to see why Minnesota wouldn’t make this deal happen.