Avery Bradley wants to stay with the Celtics..

[Monkhouse]

    And while no one knows how the Celtics and their rebuilding efforts will play out, Bradley reiterated to CSNNE.com that he wants to be part of it.

    ?Of course this is where I want to be,? Bradley told CSNNE.com in a phone interview on Thursday. ?I?ve been in Boston for four years and I love it; I love the fans, the front office. I definitely want to be back.?

    There?s no mistaking Bradley?s loyalty to the Celtics franchise and this city. That?s why he?ll have multiple basketball camps in Boston this summer for the first time.

    But Bradley has seen how business often trumps loyalty in the NBA.

Would offer him a 3/12 contract, with the last year being a player or team option.

I like Bradley, and actually would like him to stay. What does anyone else think?

Does anyone see Bradley as our future two if he can remain healthy?

[knuckleballer]

I don't think he's a starter for a good team.  I think he'd be a great guy to come off the bench as a shooter and defender.  I'd keep him at the contract you suggest, but not for the $8m per he asked for.

[Monkhouse]

I don't think he's a starter for a good team.  I think he'd be a great guy to come off the bench as a shooter and defender.  I'd keep him at the contract you suggest, but not for the $8m per he asked for.

I politely disagree that Bradley isn't a starter on a good team. I think his game could be a great mini Arron Affalo type of player. He just needs to learn how to avoid grabbing fouls, and if he can shoot his mid range more efficiently, and if his 3pt can remain around 37-38%, that is pretty good.

Considering we have his Bird rights, and I don't think anyone is offering him over 7 mil, I just don't see Avery Bradley leaving the Celtics unless he gets a blown away deal.

What I will say about Bradley; is if he wants to prove he can remain healthy, and if he signs a 3-4 year contract slightly underpaid, around 4-6 million type of deal, he'll be 26-27, and be able to cash in.

The link to the article is also here.

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/bradley-where-i-want-be

[BballTim]

I don't think he's a starter for a good team.  I think he'd be a great guy to come off the bench as a shooter and defender.  I'd keep him at the contract you suggest, but not for the $8m per he asked for.

I politely disagree that Bradley isn't a starter on a good team.

  Especially considering he's already been a starter on a good team...

[Jailan34]

I don't think he's a starter for a good team.  I think he'd be a great guy to come off the bench as a shooter and defender.  I'd keep him at the contract you suggest, but not for the $8m per he asked for.

I politely disagree that Bradley isn't a starter on a good team. I think his game could be a great mini Arron Affalo type of player. He just needs to learn how to avoid grabbing fouls, and if he can shoot his mid range more efficiently, and if his 3pt can remain around 37-38%, that is pretty good.

Considering we have his Bird rights, and I don't think anyone is offering him over 7 mil, I just don't see Avery Bradley leaving the Celtics unless he gets a blown away deal.

What I will say about Bradley; is if he wants to prove he can remain healthy, and if he signs a 3-4 year contract slightly underpaid, around 4-6 million type of deal, he'll be 26-27, and be able to cash in.

The link to the article is also here.

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/bradley-where-i-want-be

I think his size will always limit him when facing the best 2 guards in the league with any kind of size, fortunately there aren't many of those left. Also his rebounding and passing could use some work. If AB could improve in either of those areas I don't see any reason not to keep him on a more reasonable deal.

[PhoSita]

Avery is a nice role player, but that's all he is.  He is eminently replaceable, and a rebuilding team shouldn't extend too far in order to keep or acquire him.

[knuckleballer]

Avery averaged 1.4 assists per game last year.  That's pretty bad for a shooting guard.  His sub par passing along with being short for his position limit his game in my opinion.  I like him a lot as a role player though.

[Monkhouse]

Avery is a nice role player, but that's all he is.  He is eminently replaceable, and a rebuilding team shouldn't extend too far in order to keep or acquire him.

For the right offer, I think so. Hes a great defender, and can shoot the mid range/3pt decently enough. He is what you said he is, a role player. I see Bradley as a 3 and D type of guy, but can't really be versatile enough to guard the wing position neither.

Would you keep Avery Bradley for the right price, and how much is that?

[PhoSita]

Avery is a nice role player, but that's all he is.  He is eminently replaceable, and a rebuilding team shouldn't extend too far in order to keep or acquire him.

For the right offer, I think so. Hes a great defender, and can shoot the mid range/3pt decently enough. He is what you said he is, a role player. I see Bradley as a 3 and D type of guy, but can't really be versatile enough to guard the wing position neither.

Would you keep Avery Bradley for the right price, and how much is that?

Less than 4 years, less than $5 million per.

[Sketch5]

Avery is a nice role player, but that's all he is.  He is eminently replaceable, and a rebuilding team shouldn't extend too far in order to keep or acquire him.

For the right offer, I think so. Hes a great defender, and can shoot the mid range/3pt decently enough. He is what you said he is, a role player. I see Bradley as a 3 and D type of guy, but can't really be versatile enough to guard the wing position neither.

Would you keep Avery Bradley for the right price, and how much is that?

Less than 4 years, less than $5 million per.

Yeah, I'd do 4 years, fourth being team option. 4 Mill a year, with bonus's, like a bonus for certain amount of games played over a set amount. I love what the kid brings to the floor, but he keeps missing a bunch of time with injuries, and you can't pay top dollar for some one that isn't going to play at least 65 to 70 games, and thats being nice.

Still need a good SG, I think AB could reek havoc on second unit guards, and score a bunch. Thats worth more than having him start. 

[MBunge]

Avery is a nice role player, but that's all he is.  He is eminently replaceable, and a rebuilding team shouldn't extend too far in order to keep or acquire him.

For the right offer, I think so. Hes a great defender, and can shoot the mid range/3pt decently enough. He is what you said he is, a role player. I see Bradley as a 3 and D type of guy, but can't really be versatile enough to guard the wing position neither.

Would you keep Avery Bradley for the right price, and how much is that?

Less than 4 years, less than $5 million per.

Matt Barnes got 3 years, about $3.3 mil a year.
Jared Dudley got 3 years, $4.2 mil a year.
JJ Redick got 4 years, nearly $7 mil a year.

Is Bradley worth more than Redick?  Probably not but some folks clearly have no idea what even mid-level NBA players get in the market.

Mike

[Monkhouse]

Avery is a nice role player, but that's all he is.  He is eminently replaceable, and a rebuilding team shouldn't extend too far in order to keep or acquire him.

For the right offer, I think so. Hes a great defender, and can shoot the mid range/3pt decently enough. He is what you said he is, a role player. I see Bradley as a 3 and D type of guy, but can't really be versatile enough to guard the wing position neither.

Would you keep Avery Bradley for the right price, and how much is that?

Less than 4 years, less than $5 million per.

Matt Barnes got 3 years, about $3.3 mil a year.
Jared Dudley got 3 years, $4.2 mil a year.
JJ Redick got 4 years, nearly $7 mil a year.

Is Bradley worth more than Redick?  Probably not but some folks clearly have no idea what even mid-level NBA players get in the market.

Mike

Bradley is going to definitely get offers of 6 million or 7-8. The question is how much years, and what type of contract its going to be. If Ainge gives him an extra year, and a player option, maybe he sign with the Celtics for a hometown discount?

The most I can see him getting is 8 million.

[PhoSita]

Avery is a nice role player, but that's all he is.  He is eminently replaceable, and a rebuilding team shouldn't extend too far in order to keep or acquire him.

For the right offer, I think so. Hes a great defender, and can shoot the mid range/3pt decently enough. He is what you said he is, a role player. I see Bradley as a 3 and D type of guy, but can't really be versatile enough to guard the wing position neither.

Would you keep Avery Bradley for the right price, and how much is that?

Less than 4 years, less than $5 million per.

Matt Barnes got 3 years, about $3.3 mil a year.
Jared Dudley got 3 years, $4.2 mil a year.
JJ Redick got 4 years, nearly $7 mil a year.

Is Bradley worth more than Redick?  Probably not but some folks clearly have no idea what even mid-level NBA players get in the market.

Mike

I'd put Bradley's value between Barnes and Redick.  I think some team may offer him close to 6 million a season.  I don't think the Celtics should match such a deal.  $4.5 a year is what I'd target with Avery.

[hondobird33]

I believe Kevin Martin is a better option at reasonable pay even though a weaker defender.

Matt Barnes 6'7": career 8 pts/gm & 10 pts/gm in 2013/2014 - $3.3m
Jared Dudley 6'7" : career 9 pts/gm & 7 pts/gm in 2013/2014 - $4.2m
JJ Redick 6'4": career 10 ptsgm & 15 pts/gm in 2013/2014 - $7m

Kevin Martin 6'7": career 18 pts/gm & 19 pts/gm in 2013/2014 - $6.5m
Avery Bradley 6'2": career 9 pts/gm & 15 pts/gm in 2013/2014 

Bradley is probably worth $5m/yr. but can see Minny okay with sign & traded him for Kevin Martin (31 yrs old) and paying him $6.5m since he is a promising 23 yr. old that would fit their re-building plans if they traded Love.

[SCeltic34]

AB is my favorite player on the C's, but written as objectively as possible:

- 3 years, $5 mil per is reasonable.  Agree with the 4th year team option.  I would not be willing to pay much more than that given his health history and glaring weaknesses in his game.  If he is willing to accept such a contract, I would love to see him remain with the C's, much more so than the likes of Kevin Martin, Eric Gordon, and even Dion Waiters (as mentioned in the other thread).  Bradley can impact the game when he isn't scoring.  These other players cannot.  I would admittedly like to have Afflalo instead, but his contract obviously needs to be considered.

- Bradley is absolutely an elite defender.  He often gets knocked on these forums for being overrated because he can't shut down every single guard in the league on a nightly basis (or maybe because he got "torched" by Felton in last years playoffs, which really wasn't fully the case).  To do so is impossible anyway, as NBA players are simply too talented.  The only better perimeter defender in the league, off the top of my head, is Tony Allen.

- Nobody on the C's plays with more effort and energy game to game than Bradley.  A personal observation from someone who has watched every minute of all 82 games this year, and years previous.

- He can be a starter in this league, depending however on the other 4 players around him.  See season where he took Ray Allen's starting spot.  On a team which lacks a ballhander/offensive threat (e.g. a consistent post-up player) beyond the point guard, such as this past year's Celtics team, his role is best left as a 6th man/first guard off the bench due to his poor ballhandling and passing skills.  I've always felt that his role was best as a backup guard due to his defensive prowess.   His full-court pressure on 2nd unit guard can completely change the complexity of a game.  The amount of minutes he was playing this season as a starter did not allow for this.  You can't play full-court pressure for 31 minutes a game, even if it's for only 75% of the games of the season (he played in 60 games).

- Much improved spot-up/pull-up shooter.  Probably took too many field goals this year due to our team's inability to create for one another, especially long 2-pointers.  This is only concerning if it continues once we have better offensive talent on the team.

Many posters here want him to be shipped out in exchange for another player, but I'm not one of them.  He can be an integral piece of a contending team if all-star talent is in place.  Hopefully Danny finds a way to keep AB with the C's at a reasonable price.  But at the end of the day, I believe that other GMs will definitely be willing to pay more than $5 mil/year for his services, and he will therefore no longer be a Celtic after this offseason.