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REDICK RETURNS TO ORLANDO FOR SECOND TIME

ORLANDO – There is an original piece of artwork depicting J.J. Redick in an Orlando Magic uniform outside of the media workroom at Amway Center.

It’s a pose that is already familiar to Clippers observers: Redick rising to fire off a jump shot. The piece is a reminder that there is still a fondness in Central Florida for the man who gave the franchise his first seven seasons. That feeling is reciprocal.

“I feel very proud to have played in Orlando for as many years as I did and to have played on some of the teams that I did,” Redick said before Wednesday’s shoot-around. “I had some great memories of this place. It’s always going to have a special place in my heart. It will always be one of my homes. I feel like I grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. Durham (where he played at Duke University) will always be home, Orlando will always be home.”

Redick was the No. 11 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft to the Magic. He played nearly seven seasons with the team, including playing in the Finals in 2009, before being dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline last February. He returned to the city with the Bucks in April and received a standing ovation from the fans during pregame introductions. The Magic also honored him with a video tribute during the first timeout. Redick finished the game with 16 points.

A few months later, the sharpshooting guard returns again with the Clippers as a full-time starter for the first time in his eight-year career. Through four games, he’s averaged 17.8 points, including a team-high 26 in Monday’s win over the Rockets.

“He’s a good fit for this team,” said Doc Rivers, who has an offseason home in Orlando and made his head-coaching debut with the Magic 15 years ago. “Sometimes fits are very important. I think especially in J.J.’s way, we’re trying to take advantage of what he does. I had pretty good watch of him, having a son who went to Duke and having played against the Magic when I was with the Celtics in the Playoffs. You kind of knew he would be a pretty good fit.”

Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn talked pregame about Redick's presence in the Magic locker room last season. 

"I loved having J.J. in our locker room," Vaughn said. "Him being here helped so many of our young guys to realize the professionalism it takes and the approach that it takes every single day, whether it was his attention to detail with scouting reports or it was him shooting after practice."

TEAM DINNER AT DOC’S HOUSE

The Clippers started off the three-game road trip with dinner at Rivers’ home after they arrived in Orlando Tuesday evening. At shoot-around Rivers talked about why he wanted to have the team over.

“Any chance you have, you try [to help with team bonding],” Rivers said. “You don’t make it too formal. Last night, all the guys, including some of [the staff], came and ate and it was nothing there. We just ate and talked and guys kind of ate at different tables and had fun.

“Some of the guys stayed even longer because when you’re on the road you can’t watch TV with all the stuff, so some of the guys stayed at the house longer and we went up to the family room and watched games all night.”