Mavericks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson addressed the looming media via Zoom on Friday night just 24 hours removed from the team making its trade for J.J. Redick and Nicolo Melli from the New Orleans Pelicans. Even before meeting with the media before Friday’s game, Nelson had hinted in other meetings with the media that Redick would not immediately be available for the Mavericks as he is still recovering from a heel injury. Nelson offered plenty of insight and borderline eyebrow-raising updates on the deadline deal.

“Obviously, the big thing for [Redick] is getting that heel right. I think the preference would have been – in a buy-out situation – to be able to pick his location, but it didn’t happen like that. I think he’s really excited. He told me Luka [Dončić] is one of his favorite players and Luka had a chance to exchange some texts with him, as did Dirk [Nowitzki]. I think he’s pretty excited about coming to Dallas.”

It’s well known that Redick’s wife and kids live in the New York City area while he spends seasons wherever he happens to be playing. He was probably about five minutes from the Pelicans looking to negotiate a contract buyout after the trade deadline. He might have even begun talking to his family about playing in Brooklyn with the contending Nets as soon as he got bought out and was able to sign on the dotted line.

Well, now he’s a Dallas Maverick and Donnie’s phrasing of this answer is a little deflating. It’s almost just the obvious answer if you’re aware of Redick’s family living situation, but it still just doesn’t quite sound right for an executive to openly admit that a player might have rather been somewhere else. Hopefully J.J. arrives sooner rather than later and acts as if he’s happy to be here.

Yes, it’s cool that Dirk still texts players on the Mavs’ behalf.

“Our expectation is that Melli will meet us in New Orleans [on Saturday]. Again, I think with JJ, it’s a little bit different. That’s something where Casey [Smith] has had a relationship with him from USA Basketball and is communicating with him. We want to make sure that heel is 100% and so that’s more of a situation we’re going to have a chance to maybe have him workout and then slowly, when it’s comfortable, to integrate and come to Dallas.”

Judging by the Mavericks’ performance against the Pacers on Friday night, they could use the size of Melli with Willie Cauley-Stein still in health and safety protocols and James Johnson no longer on the roster.

Unfortunately, it really seems like it could be a good little while before we see J.J. Redick in a Mavericks uniform. This is concerning. Maybe there will be some good new next week, but this is certainly not what fans envisioned when they initially heard of Redick’s acquisition.