Completely Out of the Rotation! Why 25-Year-Old Cam Reddish Can't Get on the Court Anymore

Something strange happened in the Lakers’ recent shocking loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

Despite key players LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes all missing the game due to injuries, one name was still nowhere to be found in the rotation—Cam Reddish.

Even in a game where the Lakers were desperately short on bodies, Reddish remained glued to the bench. For those paying close attention, this wasn’t an isolated case. Reddish hasn’t played a single minute of meaningful basketball in nearly two months.

So, what happened? Why has a player once hailed as a future star been completely pushed out of the Lakers’ plans?

Let’s break it down.

From Regular Rotation to Complete Exile

To understand just how drastic Reddish’s fall has been, we need to look at his last few appearances.

• January 29 vs. 76ers: Played 17 minutes in garbage time after Anthony Davis exited early. Finished with 5 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal.
• January 20 vs. Celtics: Played 3 minutes in the fourth quarter of a blowout win. Did not score.

That’s it.

In nearly two months, Reddish has only played in two games, both in completely meaningless minutes.

At this point, he’s not just out of the rotation—he’s been completely abandoned.

To make matters worse, he was almost traded.

The Failed Trade That Could Have Ended His Lakers Tenure

During the trade deadline, Reddish was set to be included in a deal for Mavericks wing Josh Green. However, the trade fell apart due to medical concerns surrounding Green’s health, leaving Reddish stuck in LA.

Some might wonder—did this failed trade cause the Lakers to bench him?

The answer is no.

Just look at Max Christie, who was also included in the failed deal. Unlike Reddish, Christie returned to the rotation and has been playing well, averaging 14.2 points per game over his last five appearances.

Reddish’s disappearance isn’t about the trade. It’s about his performance.

The Harsh Truth: Reddish Simply Hasn’t Been Good Enough

Reddish’s strengths are clear:

• Elite physical tools (6'7" height, 7'1" wingspan)
• Quick feet and defensive versatility (able to guard positions 1-3)
• Decent defensive impact (opponents shoot 2.3% worse from the field when guarded by Reddish)

But the problem? His weaknesses far outweigh his strengths.

1. He Can’t Shoot

For a player who is supposed to be a 3-and-D wing, Reddish is missing one crucial element—the 3.

His three-point shooting this season:

• 45 attempts, 13 makes (28.9%)
• One of the worst shooting clips among all NBA wings
• Low volume and low efficiency

Simply put, teams don’t respect his shot, and it destroys the Lakers’ spacing when he’s on the floor.

2. Zero Shot Creation

Reddish doesn’t just struggle as a shooter—he has almost no offensive creation ability either.

• He can’t create his own shot off the dribble
• He doesn’t contribute as a playmaker
• His scoring comes almost entirely from cuts and putbacks

Compare this to Jarred Vanderbilt, another Lakers player who can’t shoot.

The difference? Vanderbilt makes up for it with relentless energy, rebounding, and hustle plays.

• Vanderbilt’s season stats (17.0 MPG): 4.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.8 ORB
• Reddish’s season stats (18.1 MPG): 3.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.5 ORB

Vanderbilt makes impactful plays despite his offensive limitations. Reddish? Not so much.

3. The Numbers Don’t Lie—The Lakers Are Worse When He Plays

One of the clearest indicators of a player’s impact is on/off statistics.

• When Reddish is on the floor: The Lakers score only 108.8 points per 100 possessions and have a -6.2 net rating.
• When Reddish is off the floor: The Lakers score 114.4 points per 100 possessions and have a +2.8 net rating.

Translation? The Lakers are significantly worse with Reddish on the court.

And it’s not just a small sample—this trend has been consistent all season.

It’s no surprise that when the Lakers added more wings, including Dorian Finney-Smith and two-way signee Jordan Goodwin, Reddish was the odd man out.

From Duke Star to NBA Afterthought—What Went Wrong?

It’s almost unbelievable to think that Cam Reddish was once considered a future NBA star.

Coming out of high school, Reddish was a top-5 prospect, ranked fourth in the nation by ESPN. He played alongside Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett at Duke, and many saw him as a Paul George-type player—a two-way wing with smooth scoring ability.

Ironically, one of his biggest strengths back then was his shooting.

Fast forward to today, and his shooting has regressed instead of improved. After years in the league, his weaknesses remain the same—poor shooting, lack of playmaking, and inconsistency.

At just 25 years old, it’s not too late for Reddish to turn things around. But he’s running out of chances.

Is This the End of Reddish’s Lakers Career?

Let’s be real—the Lakers probably won’t bring Reddish back next season.

• He was given plenty of opportunities early in the season.
• He didn’t capitalize.
• Now, the Lakers have moved on.

Even if he does find another team, the question remains—can he reinvent himself?

The talent is still there. The physical gifts are undeniable. But in the NBA, potential doesn’t mean much if it never turns into production.

Right now, Cam Reddish isn’t producing—and that’s why he’s watching games from the bench instead of playing in them.