“We want to have that fifth guy be a complementary piece…A guy that doesn’t need the ball in his hands, he’s gonna play hard, he’s gonna pick up full court, can shoot 3s.”
Christie shot two shots from behind the arc and made one of them. He is by no means an All-Defensive level player, but he is solid and has had some good outings this year. According to Redick, the effort Christie gives is the exact type of play the Lakers need in the starting five.
However, the Lakers had a better version of Christie in their starting lineup from 2017-21: Alex Caruso. Caruso emerged as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders and wanted to re-sign with the Lakers in 2021, but the Chicago Bulls offered a four-year, $36.9 million deal that the Lakers refused to match, which is a choice that has aged like milk.
Since leaving Los Angeles, Caruso has twice received Defensive Player of the Year votes and has averaged 7.6 points on 37.2% shooting from deep to go with 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and an elite 2.3 “stocks.”
Had the Lakers simply kept him, which he wanted, Redick would have the point-of-attack defender and starter who doesn’t need the ball (but can still hit shots!) that he’s dreamed of.