Feb 20, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick (7) shoots against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Redick said he was prepared for this to happen. That doesn’t make it any less surprising when suspicion gives fruit to reality. Redick was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in a move motivated by financial reasons more than anything.

Redick told the Orlando Sentinel :

There was certainly an initial shock…The most difficult part was definitely saying bye to everybody, people that I’ve spent a lot of time with over the last seven years and built relationship with and built friendships with. That was difficult.

Redick will take his talents to Brew Town, but may not be prepared to deal with the Wisconsin winter. Redick has spent his entire career in central Florida, where it’s been in the mid-80s for most of the winter. If you can call it winter.

There is a certain comfort in a city after spending over half a decade playing for them. Redick suspected that this would come, a time when Dwight Howard’s departure made the Magic an irrelevant team in the Eastern Conference, a time when a valuable role player like Redick didn’t figure into the team’s long term plans.

Feb 19, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick (7) attempts a layup ahead of Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Gerald Henderson (9) during the third quarter at Amway Center. Charlotte defeated Orlando 105-92. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic were reported to be leaning towards keeping J.J. Redick if they were unable to find a suitable offer. As it turns out, they dealt him for what appears to be a rather unappealing hodgepodge of Milwaukee Bucks’ leftovers.

Milwaukee sends Orlando Doron Lamb, Tobias Harris and Beno Udrih, source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

So, the Magic dealt one of the most coveted players at this year’s trade deadline for spare parts, essentially. They struck out not only on landing a talented prospect on a rookie contract (unless Tobias Harris and Doron Lamb qualify; they don’t) but also were unable to obtain the Bucks’ first round pick, due to John Hammond’s reluctance to give up a pick that should be in the top half of the first round.

The Magic had offers on the table which would have netted them a pick in the 20-30 range in the 2013 NBA draft, but teams are hesitant to acquire such picks due to the fact that the contracts are guaranteed to players whose talents may not even land them on an NBA roster.

Picks are said to be even more valuable with the new CBA, according to a number of NBA analysts.

RT @adamsry: Why did Orlando not land a 1st round pick? —> In the new CBA, first round draft picks are more valuable than ever

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) February 21, 2013

In addition to giving up Redick, the Magic will also surrender Gustavo Ayón, who had showed considerable promise in his short stint in Orlando. Ayón is a good high-post passer, hustles hard and he’s a capable defender of both power forwards and centers.

Feb 13, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward-center Gustavo Ayon (19) receives a pass while guarded by Atlanta Hawks center-forward Al Horford (15) at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-USA TODAY Sports

In surrendering Redick and Ayón the Magic only get worse. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for a team attempting to finish near the cellar to obtain a high draft pick. But it seems that Rob Hennigan could have got more for Redick. Instead, he waited too long and settled on an offer that won’t make the Magic a better team—now, or in the long-term.

Lamb is a dead eye shooter, but he doesn’t offer much else, which was why he went in the second round of the 2012 draft to begin with.

Tobias Harris has shown promise as a scorer and is an above average defender, but the Magic already have better options on their roster in Maurice Harkless and Aaron Afflalo. Harris will not be a rotation player in the long run, if the Magic even seek to try to make him a part of their rebuilding plans.

Lastly, Beno Udrih is a $7.8 million expiring contract, and that will help the Magic’s cap situation moving forward. It just seems disheartening that the Magic didn’t at least obtain a draft pick for Redick, especially when that was reported to be the major thing that Hennigan was seeking.

So, it was fun, J.J. Redick. Good luck re-signing him, John Hammond. Redick’s agent is reportedly seeking a four-year $40 million contract this summer, and it’s doubtful the small market Milwaukee Bucks can give him that.