Associated Press

J.J. Redick has regularly been available, but has rarely been used by the Orlando Magic during his first two years in the NBA.

Orlando's J.J. Redick has played in just 76 games during the first two years of his pro career.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- J.J. Redick turned 24 Tuesday.

To him, though, his jump shot isn't getting any younger.

If he is blowing out candles and silently asking for the Orlando Magic to trade him during Thursday's NBA Draft or this offseason, well, J.J. isn't going to get his birthday wish.

The Magic said Monday they had no plans to make a draft-night move involving Redick or to deal him this summer, even though the popular but frustrated shooting guard wouldn't mind leaving Orlando in hopes of finding playing time.

Redick, who led Cave Spring High School to a state championship in 2002, asked for a trade in January and reiterated that feeling during his exit interview with general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy after the season.

"We're not looking to move J.J. If it doesn't make sense, we're not going to move him just to move him," Smith said.

"He wants to play, and rightfully so. He thinks he hasn't been given the opportunity.

"You can say, 'I want to go somewhere else to play.' It's easy to say that but harder to do it. We're not giving him away. You're pretty much here. We do value J.J. I think he can play in this league."

Obviously, two seasons of bench-warming haven't enhanced Redick's value around the NBA.

Interest from other clubs "has not presented itself," Smith said.

Redick did not return messages, but it sounds as though he has accepted his plight. Just as he has accepted the fact that the Magic might well draft a shooting guard Thursday at No. 22 or acquire a starter during free agency in July, relegating him again to fight for backup minutes.

Redick told the Orlando Sentinel after the season ended that while he hadn't backed off his trade request, he expected to be in Orlando when camp opens in October.

In his June 18 blog entry on his Web site, Redicklive.com, J.J. wrote: "The Magic have some decisions to make this offseason -- free agency, trades, and the draft. But I believe 100 percent I'll be back with the Magic.

"In fact, I don't even think it's an issue. I just need to get better and earn Stan's trust and get some minutes. We shall see."

Redick, through his agent, Arn Tellem, had asked the Magic in early January to trade him -- about a month after the club acquired shooting guard Maurice Evans from the Los Angeles Lakers. Evans is a free agent and likely won't return.

Evans supplanted Keith Bogans as the starter. Redick, who was playing behind Bogans and combo guard Keyon Dooling, realized he wouldn't be playing much, if at all, for the second consecutive season.

He was right.

He played in just 34 games, left on the bench by Van Gundy for 41 games--the equivalent of half a season. Redick missed six games with back spasms, and one for personal reasons.

His playing time actually shrank last season. As a rookie, Redick played in 42 games under former coach Brian Hill.

He has started slowly each season after missing time while nursing injuries (back and left foot in '06; broken hand and back spasms in '07).

Smith said he has no regrets selecting Redick--"none at all"--and has preached patience to him. Redick's exasperation and trade request do not bother Smith; he expected it from a competitor such as Redick.

"Sometimes things have to fall into place," Smith said. "A lot of it is timing."

Orlando selected Redick with their No. 11 lottery pick in the 2006 draft. But shortcomings on the defensive end largely have turned the former Duke All-American -- one of college basketball's greatest shooters -- into a spectator.

The Magic needed defense, not Redick's offense. Besides, Bogans surprisingly was draining 3-pointers, a Redick specialty.

In his blog, Redick wrote that he started training in late May after playing blackjack in Las Vegas and vacationing in the Turks and Caicos Islands and "hanging out" briefly with Tiger Woods.

"I want to get stronger [weight room]," Redick writes.

"I want to get quicker and get my hips stronger for defense ... I'm working on my game, trying to improve my ball-handling and scoring off the dribble.

"So far, I've been pleased with my progress and hope that come October 1, I'll be in peak physical condition to challenge for minutes."

Maybe by next year, J.J. Redick can wish for something besides a new team.