In the latest edition of LeBron Wire’s “three goals” series, we will look at Cam Reddish. The Duke product has struggled since entering the NBA but now finds an excellent opportunity as part of the Los Angeles Lakers rotation heading into the new season. Reddish, 24, was the 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft and came into the league with the reputation of a versatile two-way wing prospect.
Reddish had somewhat of a bounce-back end to last season, as he began to show flashes during his 20 regular-season games with the Portland Trail Blazers. It’s those flashes that likely caught Rob Pelinka‘s eye and led the Lakers to sign the 6-foot-8 wing to a contract ahead of the new season,
Buy Lakers TicketsNow, Reddish will find himself in a highly competitive environment where everybody fights for minutes and spots within the primary rotation. The hope is that Reddish will thrive in such a dog-eat-dog setting and begin to make good on his undoubted potential.
Here are three things Reddish should look to achieve in the coming season.
Earn meaningful playing time
Reddish isn’t guaranteed a role within the Lakers’ top-8 rotation. Entering his fifth NBA season, the former Duke standout will need to prove himself to his new coaches and teammates and slowly claw his way toward a legitimate role. When given playing time, Reddish has to show out. It doesn’t matter if Reddish earns his minutes by being a high-level defender or if he adds a new dimension to the roster.
The number one goal for Reddish this season has to be earning meaningful minutes with the Lakers and proving, once and for all, that he belongs in the NBA and is more than an end-of-bench contributor.
Improve his three-point shooting
Since entering the league, Reddish has shot 32.2% from 3-point range despite taking 4.1 attempts per game. Those perimeter scoring numbers must improve – especially if you want to be successful playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
If Reddish can have a career year from deep, averaging around 37%, he will likely find minutes far easier to come by while also improving his overall skillet. Reddish would be a far more valuable player if he could prove he’s capable of being a perimeter-based offensive weapon.
Focus on defense
The Lakers have more than enough offensive firepower on their roster. The best route to playing time for Reddish will come on the defensive end. As such, Reddish would be smart to double down on defensive effort and use his physical attributes to carve out a reputation as a valuable wing-stopper.
Once he’s proven he can be a reliable defensive presence, Reddish can begin to expand his offensive role within the rotation. Yet, if the fifth-year wing doesn’t show legitimate upside as a perimeter defender, he will likely struggle to find a consistent role with the Lakers and could even be traded before the February deadline.
