Avery Bradley; how good can this guy be?

[mgent]

Hopefully better than JR Giddens.

[LooseCannon]

Actually Bradley played three years of PG at Bellarmine Prep so I don't know where you are getting that he isn't a PG and didn't play one in high school.

Everything I have read about his time at Bellarmine has described Abdul Gaddy, who some services rated as the second-best HS point guard in the class of 2009 behind John Wall, as the PG at Bellarmine.  The rankings of HS players that I have found also list Bradley as a shooting guard, such as this ESPN profile.

Where are you getting that he was a PG in HS?

[PosImpos]

Long term, he's a point guard. But much like George Hill in San Antonio he has the size, length, exceptional defensive ability and shooting to play either position. He eventually is a PG.
 

George Hill, that's an astute comparison, especially given the draft position.  I think we'd have to be really happy if he turned out to be a George Hill type.

[j804]

cant wait till first preseason game, sure well see lots of him then? not so much the starters

whens our first game? training camp believe is on 27th

[slamtheking]

I think his ceiling is Joe Dumars, just like it was said on here before. Defensive stopper at the 1 and 2, with a strong mid-range game, excellent of of catch & shoot situations, average playmaking ability, who could eventually move his range to the outside.

I could see this kid putting up 16-4-2 a game with strong defense. (that’s Joey D)

The thread you referenced was what I thought this one was when I saw the title.  I was the one that offered the Joe Dumars ceiling on that thread.  I still think his extremely optimistic ceiling is Dumars.  I'm hoping that in a worst case he's at least Dee Brown with better D.

In any case, we won't see him until next year due to the depth on this roster.  Doc's got 3 vets on the roster ahead of him in Rondo, Nate and Delonte.

[2short]

I think there is enough potential there it will be how does  he show on the court against nba players in a game.  If the kid seems to have "it" I would think danny will be looking at dealing nate or delonte or von.  We are a bit redundant in guard posistions.

[csfansince60s]

[In any case, we won't see him until next year due to the depth on this roster.  Doc's got 3 vets on the roster ahead of him in Rondo, Nate and Delonte.

Slam, if I had to bet, I'd agree with this, so I do agree that this is the likely scenario, especially given Doc's predilection to go with vets and our win now mode.

However,sometimes certain combinations or pairings of players work better than others, and I think that DWest and Bradley could form a pretty formidable backup backcourt. Both can D bigtime. Both have decent ballhandling abilities and can bring the ball up. Both have high energy and both can score. I think they would be a handful for any backup backcourt in the league and more than hold their own against some starting backcourts.Hope Doc gives this combo a chance.

[LooseCannon]

I am going to predict that, despite his age and the depth at the guard positions, if healthy, Avery Bradley will get more playing time as a rookie than Bill Walker did.

[ScoobyDoo]

I liked the footage I did see of him. He looks to have good athleticism, strength and good aggression.

If, within in two years time, he could be a good back up for Rondo and also play some spot off guard when the match ups permit it, I would be very, very happy with that outcome.

Outside of Ainge wanting all his contracts to expire in two years for obvious reasons, I'm wondering how much his faith that Bradley could be a long term back up for Rondo and a spot back up at off, went into his decision to sign Nate for only two years? In two years time, if this kid is any good, he will be ready to roll... 

[ScoobyDoo]

Also, it's possible that Delonte could settle down being back in Boston and be here long term, which is exactly what I hope does happen. If we can sign a max free agent off guard with soem of our cap sapce in that summer of 2012, our back court would be stacked for years to come.

Then, if we can sign another max player at PF or SF ( I think we should be able to sign two max guys that summer), we could immediately contend again.

Perkins / free agent?
Max Player? / Baby
Pierce / mid level guy
Max player / Delonte
Rondo / Bradley

I'd love to see a DWest / Bradley back up guard rotation for us, long term. That could be nasty if Bradley is the real deal. 

[LooseCannon]

If Bradley is the real deal, he would be wasted as the back-up point guard, as he would be either an NBA starter or a combo guard sixth man worthy of 30 minutes per game.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yeah, I've thought of that. If the guy is apparently a "lock down defender at the point with 6'3" height, can shoot and be at least a "decent" distributor with starter quality, you eventually will have to trade either him or Rondo to help bolster some other spot on the roster rather than using him as a back up.

In this context I was more using "real deal" more along the lines of how Delonte is the real deal as far as fitting into the NBA as a solid bench guy / occasional starter...

If Bradley turns out to be the real deal at a much higher, starting level we are in even better shape. 

[cornbreadsmart]

     If Bradley is very good on defense it seems a given that he'll at least get a shot. There sure is enough guys competing at guard ,though.
     I have concerns that whatever guys lose out on minutes could become problems. It would seem Bradley,being a rookie, would be accepting of whatever role. he's given.I wonder if him having that attitude will actually play into how many minutes he gets towards the second half of the season.

[slamtheking]

[In any case, we won't see him until next year due to the depth on this roster.  Doc's got 3 vets on the roster ahead of him in Rondo, Nate and Delonte.

Slam, if I had to bet, I'd agree with this, so I do agree that this is the likely scenario, especially given Doc's predilection to go with vets and our win now mode.

However,sometimes certain combinations or pairings of players work better than others, and I think that DWest and Bradley could form a pretty formidable backup backcourt. Both can D bigtime. Both have decent ballhandling abilities and can bring the ball up. Both have high energy and both can score. I think they would be a handful for any backup backcourt in the league and more than hold their own against some starting backcourts.Hope Doc gives this combo a chance.

I'm with you on that assessment of Bradley with West off the bench.  I think that may be a good combo going forward into next year if Danny decides to thin the backcourt ranks for that backup SF the team needs.  Danny might move Nate and/or BBD to get that last piece of the puzzle.  I think the likely scenario this year is that Bradley plays in Maine and eventually gets to watch in streetclothes when the D league season ends

[LooseCannon]

Yeah, I've thought of that. If the guy is apparently a "lock down defender at the point with 6'3" height, can shoot and be at least a "decent" distributor with starter quality, you eventually will have to trade either him or Rondo to help bolster some other spot on the roster rather than using him as a back up.

In this context I was more using "real deal" more along the lines of how Delonte is the real deal as far as fitting into the NBA as a solid bench guy / occasional starter...

If Bradley turns out to be the real deal at a much higher, starting level we are in even better shape. 

So, how would you see Bradley fitting in if he ultimately projects to be a combo guard who is a much better SG than Delonte West but not as good of a PG as Delonte West?

The way Doc seems to run the team, if Bradley picks up defensive rotations, I expect him to be given a shot to win playing time at SG while West serves his suspension.  Then, regardless of how well he does (unless he plays so well that convinces people on this board that he really is the SG of the future), his playing time will be pulled back, including some infuriating DNP-Coach's decision stat lines.  Once West's role in the rotation is established, then Bradley might be re-added to the mix.