Celtics Should Consider Trading Avery Bradley
By Jeremy Karll
There are two common notions that we always hear about the Boston Celtics: they have players with great contracts and need another star to be competitive. Both are true, and Danny Ainge is constantly working to try to land the Celtics their third star player. Although, deciding what to offer has been the tricky part for Ainge.
He’s reluctant to giving up either of the Brooklyn picks and is holding onto Jae Crowder for dear life. Eventually Ainge will have to move one of the Brooklyn picks if he wants to land a star via trade, but, entertaining the idea of trading starting guard Avery Bradley as the centerpiece to a deal should be the route he chooses.
Bradley is one of the most under-appreciated players in the NBA. HIs contributions go beyond the stat sheet, and the growth he shows every year is always a positive sign that he still has room to improve. Although, in two summers, the Celtics will likely not have room to bring him back.
Bradley already expressed his unhappiness with his current contract that will pay him $8.2M and $8.8M over the next two seasons. It doesn’t seem reasonable that Boston will be able to give him near the max contract he’ll likely command. For one, paying your third or fourth option that type of money seems ridiculous – unless he’s Klay Thompson – and the Celtics will also have to pay Isaiah Thomas that same summer, as well.
Thomas has talked about all the money that was going around this offseason.
He’s told the media, “It’s tough. But I always just put my faith in God. It is what it is. I can’t get out of my contract. That’s what it happened to be at that certain time. You’ve got to be patient and, God willing, I won’t have any major injuries. I know I’m going to play well, and my team is going to do somewhat well.”
Thomas will likely try to sign a max contract, or near one, as the former 60th overall pick will want to receive his first big pay-day. Factor in Al Horford and another potential star, that leaves Avery Bradley as the odd man out. As good of a 3-and-D player as he has become, Bradley isn’t irreplaceable, and the Celtics would be foolish not to make Isaiah Thomas their main priority that summer, barring any major injuries.
With the salary cap continuing to rise, there is a chance that Bradley and Thomas take pay cuts to stay with Boston. Although, even with Jae Crowder only making around $7.5M in his last two seasons, having four starters with huge contracts puts Boston in a tricky place. They’d be filling the rest of their roster out with draft picks and veterans on one-year deals who are chasing championships at the end of their career.
Is bringing Bradley back worth having a thin bench? It might have worked for Cleveland, but LeBron James gives you the roster flexibility that no one else in the league can.
Obviously it’s still a couple of years away, but it should make the Celtics think about how much longer they’ll have him.
If they wait until next summer to move him, his value will significantly drop as teams won’t want to give up a star for a one-year contract. Also, Boston won’t want to lose him for nothing, making trading him this summer, or at the deadline, their best option.
Of course, they need to find a team willing to take a deal surrounded by Bradley and one of the Brooklyn picks. Although, I’d imagine that the Sacramento Kings would be happy to take Bradley in the rumored three team trade between them, the Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers.
After drafting three big men in the past two years to play alongside DeMarcus Cousins, bolstering their back court should be on their to-do list. Not to mention that he’s a nice complement to score-first rookie shooting guard/small forward Malachi Richardson. The Kings would get a starting caliber guard, and would have Bradley’s Bird Rights to re-sign him in a couple of years.
They’d also finally get to replace Rudy Gay, who they’ve tried to move for years now. Gay is an elite scorer, however, Bradley’s effectiveness on both ends is rare to find in players these days. He’s coming off a career-high 15.2 points per game, his fourth straight season averaging at least one steal per game and his 5.4 threes per game is a career-high, as well.
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However, his scrappiness, on-ball defense and hustle all are things that can’t be seen on the stat sheet, and why teams may be intrigued by the still young guard.
While giving up one of the Brooklyn picks is probably non-negotiable, the players the Celtics offer is. After Terry Rozier‘s strong finish to his rookie campaign and summer league, making a package between Bradley, Rozier and Marcus Smart could open eyes as teams would get back a starting-caliber guard and another young guard with the potential to be very good in a couple of seasons.
The fact of the matter is, Avery Bradley isn’t going to bring the Celtics any closer to a championship. They won’t be able to replace his value, or contract, through free agency, but landing a star is how they’ll contend with Cleveland. Bradley is a very good role player, but he’s not irreplaceable, nor is he the solution to defeating the Cavaliers.
Next: Is Danny Ainge Being Too Stubborn?
Boston could always try to land another star via free agency next summer and play out Bradley’s contract, however, they would still have to let him walk for nothing the next summer. Therefore, with Ainge being persistent on making another splash this summer, trading Bradley seems like the best option for the Celtics.