Why do people keep talking about trading Avery Bradley

[ViolentGhandi]

-People think that because he has stopped stripping guys in a full court press that his defense has "really fallen off, man"

I don't think he's "dropped off defensively", but I think two things happened:

-The rest of the league is adjusting to him, but he isn't adjusting to the rest of the league. Teams know that very few 1 or 2 guards can beat him off the dribble. Guess what they decided to do? Run him through screens. I don't think he'll ever be Tony Allen, but he needs to at least show some improvement in this area. It reminds me of Gruden's QB camp with Johnny Manziel: "Do you know any defensive coordinators?" "No sir." "Well they know you!"

-He is being asked to guard bigger guys, which he can do - just not quite as well as guarding 6 footers obviously. I would like him to punish those guys on the other end a lot more though. He's such a great athlete, he should just be able to run away from those guys

-Defense is still not given enough weight in player assessment.

This is the main reason I don't think he'd have much trade value. Regardless of the excitement factor, perimeter players need to have an offensive game to be considered valuable. I think this is an exaggerated belief that is based on reality - teams can't afford to have 1 bad offensive perimeter player unless he does something GREAT. If you have an offensive player who plays like Bradley does now, it allows teams to hide teams to hide guys like Damien Lillard and Steph Curry, it allows them to pack the paint, etc.

having him run thru screens only works that good because our interior D is so bad - there is nearly no way that AB can rely on Sulli or Oly to do anything good on the switch so he basicly has to work thru all the screens. Zeller isnt the fastest eighter - he can't do much about a guard comming of the pick and if he does the guard just dumps the ball to one of the bigs and they will manhandle Sully.

Smart is fighting better over the picks but with his body and strenght thats a bit easier too. AB is just hitting a brick wall after another trying that.

[kozlodoev]

Because

-People think 20 games of bad shooting will happen for the rest of his career despite 200 games of evidence to the contrary

-People think that because he has stopped stripping guys in a full court press that his defense has "really fallen off, man"

-People think that $8m/year is overpaying as they look at contracts from the year 2005 to compare it to and live in ignorance of the future of the cap.

-People think that his height means he will have issues guarding 2s despite no evidence of this actually happening.

-Defense is still not given enough weight in player assessment.

- Bradley has shot .425 over his last 137 games. I'm sure this just happened because there were 20 games of bad shooting there.

-Given that his "defense" was never a game changer when he wasn't "stripping guys in a full court press" -- yes, his defense has really fallen off. Additionally, there is a discussion to be had about how useful this type of full-court press is in the long run.

-People actually look at the contracts from the year when Bradley was signed and think about whom we can have instead at his price tag.

-He totally has no issues guarding 1s and 2s. Seems equally average in both situations this year.

-Defense is given quite enough weight. It's just that Bradley is ... not all that great.

[Chris22]

I hated the Bradley signing. Big mistake by Ainge.

Bradley is too small to be a two and can't handle the ball well enough to be at the point.

[P stoff]

Defense has nothing to do with the trade talks. His offense is so listed by his poor handles, lack of passing, and overall basketball IQ in comparison with other stating SGs.

Trying to pair him with Pressey, smart, etc is the nightmare we are living. Pressey and smart can't shoot so it's hard for them to drive cause defenders can sag off.... Bradley can't drive, so you just have to stay close to him.

[jambr380]

I think realistically the reason people talk about trading Bradley is because he isn't elite and doesn't really have the opportunity to become elite despite being our starting SG. Most people believe that to be successful in the NBA, a team needs at least one all-star wing player. Green and Bradley certainly both have the ability to start on a playoff team, but neither is likely to take that next leap to stardom.

Um, Jeff Green "isn't elite". Bradley is somewhere between horrible and average, depending on what night you catch him.

Correct, Jeff Green isn't elite...and neither is AB. Since neither is likely to lead the team to #18, people are ready to move on. Green has turned it up a notch this year, but the only reason people aren't calling for his head anymore is because he is expiring and most likely going to be traded (the want what you can't have philosophy). Now that we are 'stuck' with AB for four more years, he will get the Green treatment of the last three.

[Joe Green]

Ideally, Smart develops his passing game and AB regains his shooting confidence and they actually compliment each other since Smart can easily pick up opposing SG on defense, allowing Bradly to pick up the PG who is usually closer to him in size.

[mgent]

Due to the fact that he is on our team.

[clintonwalker]

Because

-People think 20 games of bad shooting will happen for the rest of his career despite 200 games of evidence to the contrary

-People think that because he has stopped stripping guys in a full court press that his defense has "really fallen off, man"

-People think that $8m/year is overpaying as they look at contracts from the year 2005 to compare it to and live in ignorance of the future of the cap.

-People think that his height means he will have issues guarding 2s despite no evidence of this actually happening.

-Defense is still not given enough weight in player assessment.

Funny, I'm not a big AB fan but not because of anything you listed. I actually have no worries about his shooting stroke or defence. My problem with him is that he's a guard who we sometimes rely on to bring the ball up but he has no handling, zero basketball IQ, and can't consistently hit a LAYUP.

[Rosco917]

I don't really know how much upside is left in AB. I know he's young 22 or 23, it just seams his game is destined to best come off the bench.

I know one thing, I can not picture a good Celtics team of the near future with him as the starting SG. 

[dreamgreen]

Because

-People think 20 games of bad shooting will happen for the rest of his career despite 200 games of evidence to the contrary

-People think that because he has stopped stripping guys in a full court press that his defense has "really fallen off, man"

-People think that $8m/year is overpaying as they look at contracts from the year 2005 to compare it to and live in ignorance of the future of the cap.

-People think that his height means he will have issues guarding 2s despite no evidence of this actually happening.

-Defense is still not given enough weight in player assessment.

Bradley's streaky shooting isn't too much of a concern to me.  His poor ball handling, passing and overall decision making have always been a concern but they were mostly covered up with Rondo running the offense.  I think those deficiencies make Bradley a poor fit for Steven's motion offense.  I actually think Smart should be groomed to replace Bradley.  However if Ainge/Stevens are intent on making Smart the next PG I think the SG paired with him needs to be able to share the load of running the offense.  I don't think Bradley should be traded at all costs but I would trade him for a decent return.  A trade with OKC geared around Bradley for Jackson seems reasonable and beneficial to both teams.

Agree with most of what you said but not a fan of turning Smart into a SG since he can't shoot either hahaha. But I think you are spot on with teaming him with someone like Jackson.

[Sketch5]

I like my starting SG's to be at least 6'4", him being 2 inches shorter puts him at a disadvantage against twos, and If Smart is the PG of future, his size gives him an advantage, but not if he has to guard the twos because he can handle them posting him up.

I like Bradley, but I'd rather see him off the bench, but I also think he's going to get us some assets going forward in either the icing on top of a trade or a 1st rounder.

[Jonny CC]

It's just wishful thinking.

[obnoxiousmime]

I like my starting SG's to be at least 6'4", him being 2 inches shorter puts him at a disadvantage against twos, and If Smart is the PG of future, his size gives him an advantage, but not if he has to guard the twos because he can handle them posting him up.

I like Bradley, but I'd rather see him off the bench, but I also think he's going to get us some assets going forward in either the icing on top of a trade or a 1st rounder.

Bradley is going to get us a 1st rounder?!?!?! This is a guy you just said you'd rather see off the bench. Frankly, that's not a realistic return for Bradley. Teams don't want to tie up their cap long term on guys who look to be role players. Even with the cap going up, I don't see Bradley as being the guy to make or break any deal.

I see Bradley as a "tide us over" contract similar to Jeff Green's. We're not going to be competing the first few years of the deal but maybe when it has one or two years left it will be easier to move in case we need to make a big deal.

[SHAQATTACK]

Because he stinks and we have buyers remorse?

I thought he stunk BEFORE DA resigned him.

The amount paid was too much ......just because other teams signed worse players for as much ...doesn't make me feel better.....two wrongs don't make a right....

He is worth 60 % of what he is being paid .

[piercetruth34]

I hated the Bradley signing. Big mistake by Ainge.

Bradley is too small to be a two and can't handle the ball well enough to be at the point.

I don't understand this reasoning overly.  Always have felt it's better to keep assets than lose them for nothing. It depends obviously, but Bradley got what the market dictated at the time.  He's probably a little overpaid but having Bradley here isn't hurting us.

He gives us more options being here than not.  Unless we are dead set on clearing cap room which I don't think we were at the time, having assets still leaves doors open.  Plus Bradley could still serve a role here.