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

[celticsfan8591]

This article makes me think that by the end of the offseason we will not feel that 4/32 is an overpay.
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/enormous-contracts-are-the-nbas-new-reality/

Bradley isn't really in the same market as Livingston and Meeks though.  As a restricted free agent, teams would have been reluctant to offer him a contract because as soon as the offer sheet is signed, that cap space is gone unless/until we match.  Early in free agency, no one was going to give up three days of negotiating with other free agents when there was a chance we could match and make it all for nothing.  What probably would have happened is that no one would pursue Avery until all the unrestricted free agents were signed, and at that point there would be fewer teams with cap space and less leverage for Avery. 

[BballTim]

This article makes me think that by the end of the offseason we will not feel that 4/32 is an overpay.
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/enormous-contracts-are-the-nbas-new-reality/

Bradley isn't really in the same market as Livingston and Meeks though.  As a restricted free agent, teams would have been reluctant to offer him a contract because as soon as the offer sheet is signed, that cap space is gone unless/until we match.  Early in free agency, no one was going to give up three days of negotiating with other free agents when there was a chance we could match and make it all for nothing.  What probably would have happened is that no one would pursue Avery until all the unrestricted free agents were signed, and at that point there would be fewer teams with cap space and less leverage for Avery.

  They could have signed him to a contract with clauses that would have been unfavorable to the Celts and we'd have lost him with nothing in return.

[kozlodoev]

Does any one think it's weird that DA first came at AB last season with 6M then this season offer the qualifying offer of a little over 3M, and gave in at 8M?

Either DA has some thing planed, if it works out or not, or he's really crappy at negotiating contracts with players....

The main purpose of the qualifying offer is to bestow RFA status on the player.

The main problem here is that signing Bradley to a generous contract so early means you're bidding against yourself (since you still have the ability to match everything that's offered on the open market). Was the Celtics brass really concerned that someone will go above 8 million for Bradley? I find this hard to believe. Perhaps they were afraid of a structured offer, Asik/Lin style, but they're already offering the extra year, so what gives...

[MBunge]

What probably would have happened is that no one would pursue Avery until all the unrestricted free agents were signed, and at that point there would be fewer teams with cap space and less leverage for Avery.

There are a bunch of teams with cap space and most FAs are likely to resign.  There will be a lot of teams chasing players after Bron, Bosh, Wade, Melo and Pau are off the board.

Mike

[BballTim]

Does any one think it's weird that DA first came at AB last season with 6M then this season offer the qualifying offer of a little over 3M, and gave in at 8M?

Either DA has some thing planed, if it works out or not, or he's really crappy at negotiating contracts with players....

The main purpose of the qualifying offer is to bestow RFA status on the player.

The main problem here is that signing Bradley to a generous contract so early means you're bidding against yourself (since you still have the ability to match everything that's offered on the open market). Was the Celtics brass really concerned that someone will go above 8 million for Bradley? I find this hard to believe. Perhaps they were afraid of a structured offer, Asik/Lin style, but they're already offering the extra year, so what gives...

  It's proabably the structured contract concern. Not to mention they have a good idea what his market value is, not to mention plenty of teams undoubtedly talked to AB before the deal was made so he knew what the offers would be like.

[saltlover]

This article makes me think that by the end of the offseason we will not feel that 4/32 is an overpay.
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/enormous-contracts-are-the-nbas-new-reality/

Bradley isn't really in the same market as Livingston and Meeks though.  As a restricted free agent, teams would have been reluctant to offer him a contract because as soon as the offer sheet is signed, that cap space is gone unless/until we match.  Early in free agency, no one was going to give up three days of negotiating with other free agents when there was a chance we could match and make it all for nothing.  What probably would have happened is that no one would pursue Avery until all the unrestricted free agents were signed, and at that point there would be fewer teams with cap space and less leverage for Avery.

He's in the same market as Isaiah Thomas, who seems to have had no trouble pulling in an $8 mill per year offer, which he hasn't yet accepted, implying that there is more to be had.  Hayward might get a max offer as a restricted free agent.

Both the Celtics and Bradley had risk.  The Celtics had risk that some other team would come in and offer even more, after they'd struck out on someone they were saving cap room, while Bradley had the opposite risk that teams would fill up before wasting time with a restricted free agent who's team was likely to match.  The Celtics called a lot of guards on July 1st -- they had a very, very good idea of what the market could turn into, and have a heck of a lot more information than anyone on this board, and probably a little more than Bradley's side did.  Could it turn into a bit of an overpay?  Yes, they probably went high to keep Bradley from looking too closely elsewhere.  Time will tell whether it was a bargain or not, but if they overpaid, it was at most a $1 million per year overpay, and likely less.  And if they got a bargain, it was probably about the same amount.

[ManUp]

I feel like Rondo is the only extension that Danny ever got right. I do hope I'm wrong and Bradley lives up to this contract. 8 million is a lot for an injury prone player that I'm not sure is a starter on a quality team.

[Evantime34]

This article makes me think that by the end of the offseason we will not feel that 4/32 is an overpay.
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/enormous-contracts-are-the-nbas-new-reality/

Bradley isn't really in the same market as Livingston and Meeks though.  As a restricted free agent, teams would have been reluctant to offer him a contract because as soon as the offer sheet is signed, that cap space is gone unless/until we match.  Early in free agency, no one was going to give up three days of negotiating with other free agents when there was a chance we could match and make it all for nothing.  What probably would have happened is that no one would pursue Avery until all the unrestricted free agents were signed, and at that point there would be fewer teams with cap space and less leverage for Avery.

I think if you wait until later in the offseason you will see contracts that are significantly worse value than what we gave AB

[BballTim]

I feel like Rondo is the only extension that Danny ever got right. I do hope I'm wrong and Bradley lives up to this contract. 8 million is a lot for an injury prone player that I'm not sure is a starter on a quality team.

  I think Danny's gotten most of his extensions right. Start with Perk and then the ones he gave the big three as well.

[thehumburger]

My initial reaction this morning was ****.

The more I thought about it though, the more it didn't seem like a total mistake. Ainge is paying for future value, not past accomplishments. Bradley is just 23 and has improved almost every year since he's been in the league. This deal will take him into his prime years. Based on his trajectory, he still has some room for improvement. He might be overpaid in year 1 and maybe year 2 of the deal, but it's not out of the realm of possibilities that he's worth his deal by year 3 and maybe underpaid by year 4.  He's already made the 2nd team All NBA Defensive team and shot the 3 pointer at almost 40% last year. Those are pretty solid numbers. And based on what other players like Meeks got in FA, this deal doesnt look as bad. Stephenson will get north of 10 mil+ imo. So maybe it wise wise of Ainge to lock Bradley up before that deal goes through.

And, he's one of our guys. It seems foolish to just not pay someone you drafted and invested 4 years in training/developing to see the player actually make strides and improve every season. It sends a good message to the rest of the team. Work hard, improve, do as your told, and they'll take care of you. I'd rather overpay someone who gets what it means to be a Celtic than some street FA just chasing a payday.

I'll second this post. If Bradley gives them what he was last year, it won't be worth it, but if his 3pt shooting continues and overall offense improves it could be a good contract. Though he'll be 24 and in his 5th yr in the league next year; I don't think they'll have to wait till year 3 of the deal to find out.

[LooseCannon]

Does any one think it's weird that DA first came at AB last season with 6M then this season offer the qualifying offer of a little over 3M, and gave in at 8M?

Either DA has some thing planed, if it works out or not, or he's really crappy at negotiating contracts with players....

The main purpose of the qualifying offer is to bestow RFA status on the player.

The main problem here is that signing Bradley to a generous contract so early means you're bidding against yourself (since you still have the ability to match everything that's offered on the open market). Was the Celtics brass really concerned that someone will go above 8 million for Bradley? I find this hard to believe. Perhaps they were afraid of a structured offer, Asik/Lin style, but they're already offering the extra year, so what gives...

  It's proabably the structured contract concern. Not to mention they have a good idea what his market value is, not to mention plenty of teams undoubtedly talked to AB before the deal was made so he knew what the offers would be like.

Bradley is not subject to the Gilbert Arenas provision.  That only applies to restricted free agents with 1-2 years in the league, meaning their team does not have full Bird rights.

[CelticG1]

My brother owes me $100 if bradley plays under 72 games and i owe him if he plays in 72+.


Whos winning this bet?

[D.o.s.]

You are.

I really hope you feel badly about taking easy money. 

[BballTim]

Does any one think it's weird that DA first came at AB last season with 6M then this season offer the qualifying offer of a little over 3M, and gave in at 8M?

Either DA has some thing planed, if it works out or not, or he's really crappy at negotiating contracts with players....

The main purpose of the qualifying offer is to bestow RFA status on the player.

The main problem here is that signing Bradley to a generous contract so early means you're bidding against yourself (since you still have the ability to match everything that's offered on the open market). Was the Celtics brass really concerned that someone will go above 8 million for Bradley? I find this hard to believe. Perhaps they were afraid of a structured offer, Asik/Lin style, but they're already offering the extra year, so what gives...

  It's proabably the structured contract concern. Not to mention they have a good idea what his market value is, not to mention plenty of teams undoubtedly talked to AB before the deal was made so he knew what the offers would be like.

Bradley is not subject to the Gilbert Arenas provision.  That only applies to restricted free agents with 1-2 years in the league, meaning their team does not have full Bird rights.

  They could put incentives in his contract or do other things to make it unpalatable for the Celtics.

[kozlodoev]

They could put incentives in his contract or do other things to make it unpalatable for the Celtics.

Or they can just give him more money than the Celtics would match. That's not the point. The point is, how likely is it to happen.