Avery Bradley & Celtics Agree to 4-year, $32 million contract

[chambers]

What will Bradley add to his game that will eventually make him worth $8 mil? Hes a very good defender and a solid shooter, undersized for his position and cant play point because he has suspected ball handling. Thats not $8 no, even if he learns to dribble.

But it actually is worth 8 million.  Look at the market.

And if he could add passing and ball handling?  It'd be a steal.  He would be a stud.

Just because some imprudent teams are making dumb moves does not mean that we should be doing the same.

1.  I think it's been pretty well established that $8 mil a year is not at all an outrageous salary for someone of Bradley's talent at his position.

2.  James Young won't turn 19 until August.  Unless you want Boston to tank again and even harder this time, you need someone to man that spot.

And I think people are overlooking the fact that this is only a 4 year deal.  That's huge.  Gortat got a 5 year deal.  Lance Stephenson is reported to be unhappy with a 5 year offer from Indy at slightly more per year than Bradley.  Given the new salary rules, a lot of FAs are going to be demanding that 5th year to resign with their teams.

Mike

I actually wanted it to be a 5-year deal.  As an ABeliever, one more year at a reasonable rate would have suited me just fine.

Young is 19, but young is also a small forward according to Danny Ainge. He says Young 'maaaybe' able to learn the shooting guard game.

Yong's defense is pretty poor and he wouldn't be able to stay in front of most NBA starting SG's.

[lantinm]

I'm kind of shocked that most in this thread think we overpaid for Bradley.  Here's why he's worth it:

1. Above-average defender
2. He's become a reliable jump-shooter and now has 3-point range
3. He's still developing (which means that there's a possibility that both his handle and ability to finish at the rim improve).  I could also see his scoring go up as well.
4. With the deals that both Meeks and Livingston got, Bradley's deal is about right
5. We need to keep in mind that the cap is going up, so the players who were making 5 to 6 mill per year will now be essentially making 7 or 8 per.
6. A defensive backcourt of Smart and Bradley will wreak havoc on opposing guards.  Yeah, they'll be a bit undersized, but they may also come up with about 5 to 6 steals a game between them.
7. Bradley NEVER takes any games off.  His unrelenting intensity and passion are intangibles that not many players possess in this league.

[knuckleballer]

#Celtics officials - citing moratorium - not willing to discuss reported Avery Bradley contact. Ainge, Stevens unavailable today.

Scott souza

seems strange

Maybe they don't want to talk about the Avery Bradley contract because he's not actually staying in Boston as this is part of a sign and trade.  Or maybe I'm being too hopeful and unrealistic.
$8m is a lot for a guy who should be a back up.  He averaged 1.4 assists per game playing 31 minutes at guard.  That's terrible.

[Who]

$8 million a year is what you give to an above average starter.

Someone who is a top 15 player at their position. With as weak as the SG position currently is, more like top 12 or top 10 player at that specific position.

I do not understand why Ainge pays this money when he just drafted Marcus Smart to be his SG. Smart is a more well-rounded player and more talented prospect than Bradley is. Then Ainge has Rajon Rondo at PG; supposedly a player the team is building around. Why pay above average starter money to a backup defensive guard? Is Bradley insurance for one of Rondo/Smart being traded?

[Celtics39]

Just throwing in my 2 cents.

 Avery is one of my favorite players on the team. I love how hard he plays. His size isn't an issue because he can guard pretty much anyone from 1-3.

His offensive game is improving.  He averaged 14.9 PPG this year. I think he'll peak at around 17-18. Pretty solid offensive player. His jump shot gets better every year.

As long as he stays healthy, he will be worth the contract.

[saltlover]

I have mixed feelings on this signing. I like Bradley and will be glad to see him play for the Celtics next year.

However, i mourn the loss of cap space. If the Celtics were to extend Rondo, they cannot afford another max player in 2015.

Here comes the long rebuild. Perhaps that was the most likely course anyway. The Celtics are way short on star talent to use in a big trade.

I don't mourn the loss of cap space at all -- using it for free agents prevents you from adding depth to your team via tools such as the MLE.  If we want to go after a big-time free agent next summer, we'll use the Wallace expiring, non-guaranteed contracts, and draft picks to get the player via a sign-and-trade.  I'm sure a reasonable deal can be made if the Celtics can convince the star to come here.  Minnesota isn't going to let Love walk for nothing.  And I'd rather have useful players like Bradley on that team than minimum salaries from the bargain bin.

[Csfan1984]

So far based on the comments I see there are two major pros and cons on this deal.

Pros: Locked in a solid guard for the next 4 years. At 23 he has room to grow as a player.

Cons: Paid near top of market price for teams own RFA. Hurt teams future cap flexibility.

[LooseCannon]

#Celtics officials - citing moratorium - not willing to discuss reported Avery Bradley contact. Ainge, Stevens unavailable today.

Scott souza

seems strange

It's pretty standard to not comment on deals until they become official.  No free agent signing can become official until after the July moratorium ends.

[D.o.s.]

Just throwing in my 2 cents.

 Avery is one of my favorite players on the team. I love how hard he plays. His size isn't an issue because he can guard pretty much anyone from 1-3.

His offensive game is improving.  He averaged 14.9 PPG this year. I think he'll peak at around 17-18. Pretty solid offensive player. His jump shot gets better every year.

As long as he stays healthy, he will be worth the contract.

I think the idea of Bradley guarding most Small Forwards is a little gratuitous -- especially since he struggles against big shooting guards.

[Kuberski33]

I'm kind of shocked that most in this thread think we overpaid for Bradley.  Here's why he's worth it:

1. Above-average defender
2. He's become a reliable jump-shooter and now has 3-point range
3. He's still developing (which means that there's a possibility that both his handle and ability to finish at the rim improve).  I could also see his scoring go up as well.
4. With the deals that both Meeks and Livingston got, Bradley's deal is about right
5. We need to keep in mind that the cap is going up, so the players who were making 5 to 6 mill per year will now be essentially making 7 or 8 per.
6. A defensive backcourt of Smart and Bradley will wreak havoc on opposing guards.  Yeah, they'll be a bit undersized, but they may also come up with about 5 to 6 steals a game between them.
7. Bradley NEVER takes any games off.  His unrelenting intensity and passion are intangibles that not many players possess in this league.

I agree with all this.  They decided that Bradley is part of the long range plans here and had to pay him market rate to keep him from negotiating with other teams -- at which point they'd have had to pay even more or lose him.  They now have a player who's still improving about to enter his prime years.  I'm not doing handstands over the deal but if Avery is in their plans then it makes sense.

The problems with this team lie in the front court, not so much the backcourt.

[rondohondo]

I love how people here in favor of the contract are making Bradley out as some good shooter now . The guy averaged 1 three pointer made per game last year ( the first time in his career he averaged 1 + per game) .

The guy can't get to the rim at all off the dribble , he is horrible at making entry passes into the low post , heck he is horrible at passing in general. Has no PG ability whatsoever , and often settles for long two point jumpers off the dribble, which is the worst shot you can take in basketball.

Like I mentioned earlier, he is a spot of 3pt shooter(but only make one a game ) and a cutter . His defense is good, but not close to what it was his first few years .

I don't get it , the guy is the definition of a role player .

[Who]

Not sure wht so many are decrying the deal as so bad. The salary cap increased by close to 10% and early estimates are that another large jump in the salary cap is expected next year. That type of number reflects a growing Basketball Related Income for the league which pushes up, eventually, min and max level and MLE contracts and everything in between.

If the salary cap grows another $6-8 million in the time of Bradley's contract, then his mid $8 million a year contract in his 4th year will actually be an underpayment, even if his performance in those four years doesn't change much from what we have seen in his career thus far.

This is not the league of the last CBA anymore. Increasing BRI is going to force owners to give more to the players and a mediocre to good player who's salary before seemed to be the right market at around the MLE has gone up.

Paying Bradley $7.3 million a year or so next year is about market value. By the end of the contract, if Bradley develops some more, he should be a decent bargain, given his performance, his contract and what will be happening throughout the NBA with regards to BRI and player's salaries.

That is an interesting way to look at contracts this season.

So a nearly 10% jump this year and good chance there will be an even larger jump next year. So take usual contract evaluations and up them 20-25%?

Closer estimate to what players will be getting / worth in 2 years time.

[Celtics39]

I love how people here in favor of the contract are making Bradley out as some good shooter now . The guy averaged 1 three pointer made per game last year ( the first time in his career he averaged 1 + per game)

You do realize that Avery making 1.3 out of 3.3 3 pointers per game last season is extremely efficient, right?

For context..
Chandler Parsons made 1.8 out of 4.7 3s last year which is 37%.
Gordon Hayward made 1.1 out of 3.6 3s last year which is 30.4%.
Avery Bradley made 1.3 out of 3.3 3's last year which is 39.5%.

[rondohondo]

I love how people here in favor of the contract are making Bradley out as some good shooter now . The guy averaged 1 three pointer made per game last year ( the first time in his career he averaged 1 + per game) .

The guy can't get to the rim at all off the dribble , he is horrible at making entry passes into the low post , heck he is horrible at passing in general. Has no PG ability whatsoever , and often settles for long two point jumpers off the dribble, which is the worst shot you can take in basketball.

You do realize that Avery making 1.3 out of 3.3 3 pointers per game last season is extremely efficient, right?

For context..
Chandler Parsons made 1.8 out of 4.7 3s last year which is 37%.
Gordon Hayward made 1.1 out of 3.6 3s last year which is 30.4%.
Avery Bradley made 1.3 out of 3.3 3's last year which is 39.5%.

I realize it is efficient , but when you are only making 1 a game , it doesn't really help the team spread the court . A lot of times he gets run off the 3 pt shot because of his height and settles for a long 2 point jumper off the dribble , which is a bad shot .

[Kuberski33]

That is an interesting way to look at contracts this season.

So a nearly 10% jump this year and good chance there will be an even larger jump next year. So take usual contract evaluations and up them 20-25%?

Closer estimate to what players will be getting / worth in 2 years time.

Yeah, I have a feeling that later this month, when some of these Free Agents start signing,  this won't look like such a bad deal.