The Boston Celtics have been very busy this offseason. After they reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season and got knocked off easily by the Cleveland Cavaliers, it became apparent that they need to improve their roster this summer. From day one of the offseason, the Celtics started recruiting Gordon Hayward from the Utah Jazz. Hayward ended up in Boston after all, as he signed a four-year deal worth around $128 million. The only issue with Hayward's signing is that the Celtics needed to move one or two of their young players in order to create the salary cap needed for Hayward.
On Friday it was reported that Kelly Olynyk signed a multi-year deal with the Miami Heat, and reportedly Avery Bradley will part ways with the Celtics also.
Bradley will be a free-agent next summer
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was the first to report the story about the Avery Bradley trade. Apparently, Bradley was traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Marcus Morris. This deal made it possible for the Celtics to sign a max-contract with Gordon Hayward, and also gives them another solid player in Morris. Also, Bradley will be a free-agent next summer and the Celtics weren't sure whether they could keep him long-term after this season.
ESPN story on Boston trading Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons. https://t.co/Fb9KNZ191Q
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 7. srpnja 2017.
Avery established himself over the past few years as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, and his offensive game improved drastically.
Last season with the Celtics he averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 39% from the three-point line. Reportedly, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers were also interested in acquiring Bradley via trade but he ended up in Detroit. He was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics and spent all of his first seven seasons in Boston.
Bradley holds a career average of 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. No doubt that he will be a great addition to the young Detroit Pistons team that struggled last season and didn't make the playoffs.
Morris headed to Boston
In this deal, Boston will receive Marcus Morris in return. Morris was the 14th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, drafted by the Houston Rockets.
He spent the last two seasons playing for the Detroit Pistons, and last season with the Pistons he averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Morris is a 6-foot-9 power forward who can make three-pointers as well. After the departures of Kelly Olynyk and Avery Bradley from Boston, Morris might be inserted into the starting lineup to play alongside Al Horford in the Celtics frontcourt.
