Max Christie is already giving JJ Redick and Lakers exactly what they paid for

The Los Angeles Lakers made a powerful statement about how JJ Redick will differ from Darvin Ham before free agency could formally begin. It was a rather shocking turn of events, in retrospect, as Los Angeles made a long-term commitment to a player who struggled to even see the court under Ham.

Just three games into the preseason, the investment has already been justified as third-year shooting guard Max Christie fills the exact role the Lakers paid him to.

Christie appeared in 108 games between his first two NBA seasons, averaging 13.5 minutes per game. He played well despite his limited opportunities, shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and defending with intriguing energy.

Unfortunately, even a slew of injuries that wiped out almost the entirety of the Lakers' second unit in 2023-24 couldn't convince Ham to give Christie an elevated role.

In 2024-25, Christie projects to see a significantly larger share of the minutes distribution. He signed a four-year, $32 million contract earlier this summer and has been putting in the work to establish himself as a key member of the rotation.

Three preseason games in, Christie is already proving to be exactly what the Lakers paid for—and everything he's done should translate to the regular season.

Max Christie doesn't need big stats to make a big impact

The most glaring absence from the Lakers' rotation in 2023-24 was a two-way wing who could provide consistent energy on defense. Jarred Vanderbilt projects to be the team's best on-ball defender in 2024-25, but the need for additional offensive value persists.

Whether or not Christie is able to find his offensive rhythm on a consistent basis in 2024-25, his skill set and energy project to be culture-changing strengths.

The preseason has been highlighted by Christie providing the versatile contributions expected of him. He's buried the three-ball with impressive range, form, and general proficiency, and has played with consistent effort on defense.

It's the latter trait that makes him worth every penny, as the Lakers' lack of defensive-minded guards proved devastating in 2023-24.

Entering the 2024-25 season, Christie will team with fellow reserve Gabe Vincent to help change the culture. The effort and intensity they bring to the table could prove invaluable, especially with starters Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell slanting toward offensive prioritization.

A four-year contract entails progressive growth and improvement, but Christie's annual salary falls right in line with the value his energy and IQ provide without any other statistical analysis necessary.

Christie being an established threat from beyond the arc will hold opposing defenses accountable, even when his shot isn't falling. His energy on the other end of the floor will give Redick a guard he can trust for consistent effort where it simply didn't exist last season.

No one will complain if Christie continues to attack closeouts or make plays in transition, but his mere presence and energy on the court as a 3-and-D option is already justifying the investment.