Ainge at the Chicago combine

[Eddie20]

Not much, but I figured I would share it....



In a brief interview with Andy Katz, Ainge said the following:

Only 2 impact players in this draft (Irving and Williams).
Some quality players in this draft.
Whoever they select will not have any impact on what they do in free agency or through trades.


After the interview the panel, which included Chad Ford, Katz, Fran Fraschilla etc., were torn on whether or not Bradley was a bad pick. Ainge's statement that Bradley would be a top 5 pick in this draft was also brought into question.

[droopdog7]

I saw this.  The panel had a semi heated debate on bradley.  One side basically took the wait and see approach and said they trusted the evaluation that the team has of bradley (which we know is fairly high). 

The other side (which was mainly one guy) had two points.  What is DA supposed to say; of course he is going to try and justify his pick.

The second point, which I pretty much have felt all along, is that avery is being asked to do something that he has never done (i.e., be a PG).  We have no idea whethe avery will be able to make the transition and at best, his future is in question.

[Celtic#9]

Yes I saw it too but it seemed like there was ore people against Bradley. However, I do feel like Bradley would easily be top 10 this draft. Maybe the 5th best. Who nows maybe Danny was just trying to talk him up. The kid is still only 20 but has a ways to go. This is probably the year for him to prove it. The kid HAS to see the court better and get more adjusted to the fast pace. He reminds me of Dwayne Wade for some reason. Obviosuly, he will never be that good or maybe never even a starter but for some reason that just who he reminds me of.

[Cman]

Yes I saw it too but it seemed like there was ore people against Bradley. However, I do feel like Bradley would easily be top 10 this draft. Maybe the 5th best. Who nows maybe Danny was just trying to talk him up. The kid is still only 20 but has a ways to go. This is probably the year for him to prove it. The kid HAS to see the court better and get more adjusted to the fast pace. He reminds me of Dwayne Wade for some reason. Obviosuly, he will never be that good or maybe never even a starter but for some reason that just who he reminds me of.

It is really really unfortunate that there is no summer league for Avery to play in.

[Dchuck]

Yes I saw it too but it seemed like there was ore people against Bradley. However, I do feel like Bradley would easily be top 10 this draft. Maybe the 5th best. Who nows maybe Danny was just trying to talk him up. The kid is still only 20 but has a ways to go. This is probably the year for him to prove it. The kid HAS to see the court better and get more adjusted to the fast pace. He reminds me of Dwayne Wade for some reason. Obviosuly, he will never be that good or maybe never even a starter but for some reason that just who he reminds me of.

It is really really unfortunate that there is no summer league for Avery to play in.

Especially since he didn't play in last year's summer league!

[Eja117]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

[billysan]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

I think they are maybe saying he is a late bloomer?

I agree, he seems lost and has done really nothing. This is a you got it or you dont game most of the time. I havent seen much sign Avery Bradley has got it yet. Players that have big learning curve issues usually benefit from more college. Now we have taken him to raise for a while I guess.

I would love to be proven wrong with his play on the court this season. Just dont wait until he is on another team to do it please. Doc? Danny?

[Eja117]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

I think they are maybe saying he is a late bloomer?

I agree, he seems lost and has done really nothing. This is a you got it or you dont game most of the time. I havent seen much sign Avery Bradley has got it yet. Players that have big learning curve issues usually benefit from more college. Now we have taken him to raise for a while I guess.

I would love to be proven wrong with his play on the court this season. Just dont wait until he is on another team to do it please. Doc? Danny?

if you look at his game log numbers and whatnot his numbers are just awful.  I mean really really awful. and yet far better than Joe Fortes'

[Celtic#9]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

How good was Steve Nash when he was 20? MVP candidate? The kid was 22 and averaged 10 minutes a game with 3.3 points and 2 assists. I wouldn't say he was picked to win MVP in the future. What about Perkins? His first year he avereaged 3.5 minutes a game.

[gar]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

How good was Steve Nash when he was 20? MVP candidate? The kid was 22 and averaged 10 minutes a game with 3.3 points and 2 assists. I wouldn't say he was picked to win MVP in the future. What about Perkins? His first year he avereaged 3.5 minutes a game.

TP Thanks for bringing a little perspective. Bradley has been as advertised - a NBA level defender who is still learning to play PG.

[SHAQATTACK]

DA was shopping him around for sure.

I'm inclined to wait another year.

our luck, we would trade him off and two years latter he becomes the next D. Wade

[jdz101]

Another example is dragic...he took more than a season to find his feet and he's getting steadily more effective as they build his minutes.

[vinnie]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

How good was Steve Nash when he was 20? MVP candidate? The kid was 22 and averaged 10 minutes a game with 3.3 points and 2 assists. I wouldn't say he was picked to win MVP in the future. What about Perkins? His first year he avereaged 3.5 minutes a game.

Bradley and Steve Nash in the same sentence? 

[BballTim]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

How good was Steve Nash when he was 20? MVP candidate? The kid was 22 and averaged 10 minutes a game with 3.3 points and 2 assists. I wouldn't say he was picked to win MVP in the future. What about Perkins? His first year he avereaged 3.5 minutes a game.

Bradley and Steve Nash in the same sentence? 

  Haha. Maybe if you could inform people of exactly the player Bradley will be in 5-6 years they could pick a closer example.

[ThaPreacher]

I don't understand why people say he's only 20.  There have been many many successful 20 year olds in this league and younger.  He did nothing.

How good was Steve Nash when he was 20? MVP candidate? The kid was 22 and averaged 10 minutes a game with 3.3 points and 2 assists. I wouldn't say he was picked to win MVP in the future. What about Perkins? His first year he avereaged 3.5 minutes a game.

Bradley and Steve Nash in the same sentence? 

Maybe they meant Shawn Bradley and Steve Nash, lol heh!

Avery Bradley....  NBA defender......  Top 5 guy in this years draft.......
Idk.....It seems that Danny talks everyone up right before he deals them.  But then thats his job.
It seems that this kid was scared of his own shadow on the court.  Doc certainly doesn't trust him.
And I think we are all rightfully skeptical of him developing at a rate that helps Boston in the near future.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him part of a package over the summer.  It doesn't make sense that he's not in a summer league, unless Danny is trying to hide his weaknesses so it does not diminish his trade value.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love the kid to pan out.  And no one ever accused Steve Nash of being a defensive stopper. Nash did however, have an offensive skill set from the get go.  He could dribble, he could pass and he could shoot.  His PPM ratio was irrelevant.  Bradley just doesn't have the offensive skill set.  He needs to go review the Pistol Pete Maravich dribbling videos on youtube, and get himself to the 76er 5 star camp over the summer. I'd like to see him make the transition from off guard to point guard.  I'd also like Rajon Rondo to get a jump shot.  And Santa Claus to drop a young 6'10 athletic, dunking bigman who can hit the offensive boards like Dennis Rodman, (save the hair dye), who has a mid range jumpshot down the chimney tree.  Somehow, I think we all will be waiting for something thats not going to happen.  I'd love Bradley to suprise us.  But I'm not so sure it will ever happen.