CHRONICLES OF REDICK

By: Tim Povtak

THE SHOT

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski calls him the 'the best pure shooter in school history.' He set an NCAA record for most career 3-pointers (457) and is the all-time leading ACC scorer (2,769 points). As a senior, he shot 42 percent from 3-point land. His mechanics are perfect and never vary. The footwork is excellent, and the release is quick. If he is fouled, he is automatic from the free-throw line (91.2 percent in college). There aren't enough shooters in today's NBA. The Magic have one now and haven't seen this since Dennis Scott.

THE BACK

There are degrees of a herniated disk, and Redick's doesn't sound like it will end his career. Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls had the same injury and won six NBA titles and played in seven NBA All-Star Games. Redick didn't miss a game at Duke due to back issues. He was hurt doing workouts on his own before the NBA's pre-draft camp. He believes a cortisone shot fixed the problem. Doctors assured the team the back issue should not affect his career. Redick went to Duke, like Grant Hill, but doesn't have Hill's health woes.

THE DUI

He always has been a better shooter than a driver, and he proved it last month when he tried to avoid a police checkpoint near the Duke campus by making an illegal U-turn, then pulling into an apartment complex. When stopped by police, he was found to have a blood-alcohol level of .11, which is slightly higher than legal in North Carolina.He showed up in the news as a freshman at Duke when his name was linked to an on-campus marijuana charge. He later was cleared of any wrongdoing, but it took several days of explaining. The Magic were not deterred by any issues of character, because he is considered too smart and too hard-working for this to be but a blip on his resume.

THE ATTITUDE

There is a cockiness about him that coaches love, but it made him a magnet for the hecklers in college basketball. Duke has become the team that the rest of the college basketball world dislikes, and Redick became the prime target the past four years. The taunts only fueled his fire, turning them into positive energy. He is mentally tough, which often is lacking with many young players coming into the league.Scott Skiles had this kind of attitude when he played for the Magic. As much as his shot is an asset, so is his in-your-face attitude.

THE DEFENSE

He was only an average defender in the NCAA, which will be accentuated in the NBA, where great players and coaches will exploit any weakness they can find. At 6 feet 4, he will be on the short end during most of his matchups at shooting guard. And without good size or great athleticism, defense is going to be a problem for him. The Magic have been saying they can teach him to play NBA defense, but putting him and Jameer Nelson -- also weak defensively -- on the court together could become a real problem. The NBA is filled with talented guys who don't play good team defense. The Magic believe that Redick's intensity and guile can help him become a good team-defense player.

THE STREET CRED

Everyone knows who he is, which will be evident by the reception he receives when he makes his first appearance in a Magic uniform. Everyone has an opinion about him, too. Not since Florida's Mike Miller in 2000 have the Magic taken a player who people knew before he got here.

The Magic will use him in their marketing campaign, and if he shows early that he can play, his popularity will grow quickly.