Avery Bradley what do you think of his future? Can he be a better Nate Robinson?

[ScoobyDoo]

I like Avery. I think he's one of the most tenacious guys I've ever seen play on defense. Yes, ever, he's like glue.

I also think he has elite level NBA athleticism at his position.

As someone else also said, he basically has no conscience on the offensive side of the ball.

I also think he's tough as nails mentally. He's not too bashful out there on defense OR offense.

So let's see:
Elite NBA athleticism
Tenacious defender
Aggressive on offense
Tough as nails mentally

I agree that he has "a lot to learn" but I'm no going to underestimate all the positive qualities he also has.

I'll put my money on him becoming a very good rotation player for us, possibly more.

You put him in an uptempo game and I think he excels.
 

[ScoobyDoo]

Lastly, he may struggle with the learning curve right now - but I like his focus and effort. You don't see him goofing around too much during game time or timeouts. He's pretty dialed in.

I'd definitely give him more burn this year.

However, if we in fact draft Reggie Jackson, I think we'll know what Ainge and Doc really think of Bradley. 

[Evantime34]

It is way too early to tell either way. He certainly has the athleticism to get it done.

[Chris]

I also think he's tough as nails mentally. He's not too bashful out there on defense OR offense.
 

Really???  Up until the last game of the season (and I take that game with a grain of salt, since the Knicks were playing defense like it was a layup line), he looked like a complete deer in headlights to me.  I can't think of any player I have seen who looked more completely overwhelmed in an NBA game than he did 90% of the time he was out there. 

If anything, I would say his mental makeup is my biggest concern with him.

[Lucky17]

His future in the NBA will not be as a traditional point guard.

I think he plays strictly off-guard alongside a larger PG type. A very poor man's Kirk Hinrich. Actually, that may be too generous.

Maybe a smarter Tony Allen?

[throwedoff]

I aint even gon lie I was severely dissapointed in his rookie season I know he's not a point guard but for somebody 6'3 he had 0 ballhandling skills he looked like he had 0 confidence up until that last game against the knicks let's hope thats a launching pad heading into next season i give him a lil bit of a pass cuz he missed summer league nd most of training camp

[ScoobyDoo]

Yeah Chris, he did look lost a lot of the time. But I can name any number of rookies who have looked lost. Al Jeff and Perk took literally years to even look remotely comfortable on the court.

So I attribute that to just being a rookie. The kid is what 19 years old, 1-2 seasons of college ball, thrown onto a team with three hall of fame players in the biggest spotlight in basketball? I'll cut him a pass on looking a little lost during his rookie season in which he had no training camp due to injuries.

Lost? Yes. Timid? Absolutely not. I don't see him as the least bit timid. I think (hope) we may be pleasantly suprised by his contributions this year.

If he can improve his ball handling this summer, he has the ability to get wherever he wants to go on the floor.

My assignment for him would be to do ball handling exercises about four hours a day this summer - and continue to improve his jump shot, which isn't actually "that" bad.     

[Atzar]

I also think he's tough as nails mentally. He's not too bashful out there on defense OR offense.
 

Really???  Up until the last game of the season (and I take that game with a grain of salt, since the Knicks were playing defense like it was a layup line), he looked like a complete deer in headlights to me.  I can't think of any player I have seen who looked more completely overwhelmed in an NBA game than he did 90% of the time he was out there.  

If anything, I would say his mental makeup is my biggest concern with him.

JR Giddens!  That completely and utterly refutes your argument.

But seriously, as a multi-year college player Evan Turner looked nearly as bad for the first month of the season as Bradley - and he doesn't play defense quite like Avery does, either.  Turner is developing pretty well now, and made an impact in the playoffs against the Heat.  

I think a lot of the difference for these kids is simply the opportunity to learn and play through their mistakes.  I honestly believe that, had Bradley been drafted to a team that needed him for 20-25 minutes a night regardless of how much he struggled, he'd already be a solid bench player and maybe flashing potential for more.  Instead he was on a team where he played in short 3 minute spurts, and every mistake is magnified.  

I have two thoughts as far as his future goes.  First is that I think he's an NBA talent with potential to be quite good and, by all accounts, he has the work ethic to match it.  Second, I think Boston probably won't be the place where he realizes that potential unless we fall back into rebuilding mode immediately after this year.  Just not the right kind of environment for a project like this kid.  

Let's hope a healthy summer helps him a lot.

[droopdog7]

Pretty clear he's never going to be a point guard.  I mean, he makes Eddie House look like Isiah Thomas.  I think they drafted him expecting he could become a Delonte-type combo guard, but Delonte looked a helluva lot more natural at the PG spot back in his rookie year. 

It's not *over* for him, but if he's going to stick in the league he's got some work in front of him.

I think that's a little harsh.

He will never be Steve Nash, but I don't understand why you don't believe a 20-year-old can learn to be a quasi-playmaker. I think he can be something like a very poor man's Rose, with All-NBA-quality defense. He looks like he has a very good handle and quickness. His midrange shot has the potential to be a weapon, and he is young enough to extend his range out to be at least a threat from outside.

He is very young, and I wouldn't hesitate throwing him into any trade that definitely makes us better for next season, but I really believe he has potential to be either a quality starter or a very good backup, sort of like Delonte West.

20 years old is not young in basketball terms.  A lot of players improve what they have from here.  Not have players CHANGE what they are this late in the game.

I think he will pretty much be a bust.  He has all the markings of one.

[Marcus13]

Not in this league.

I understand that he was a rookie last season, but he was an absolute deer in headlights.

And honestly, I don't feel that this is the best team for him to learn on

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I think he has the potential to be really solid. His defense is there an is really committed into playing, he's athletic, he has a good jumpshot albeit still inconsistent.

I just hope Danny and Doc figures out what to do with him. I wanna see him play, at the same time, i want him to just be and traded and get something of value if he won't. I hope they figure it out pretty soon.

[Eja117]

I'm curious. After Acie Earl's rookie year or after Joe Forte's rookie year did people say it was too early to tell if they'd be good? 

[Bozo]

I think him going one on one with Rondo perhaps changed both of them.  If he can take on Rondo, he can take on anyone.  Doubt he is much of a point, but he may be too good to not let him play the 2 and watch what happens. 

[manl_lui]

i hope he doesnt get traded...i wanna see him after a full training camp then judge him...because of his injury, he missed the summer league then training camp

since theres no summer league this year, he should use this time to get ready for training camp

im really impress with his defense this year, so his offense suck, but i think his offense will improve over time, but defense is harder to find...

ill judge him after another year in green...im more impressed by him than Billy Walker, Gerald Green or JR Giddens

[MBz]

It's so hard to judge this kid.  He showed zero point guard skills at Texas. He was basically the 3rd or 4th PG option there.  People got hurt and Barnes still did not want to move him from the 2 to the point.  He's very athletic, shows great defensive potential, but offensively, I'm worried.  I think he could be a stud defensive PG off the bench, but probably nothing more than that.