The Detroit Pistons traded power forward Marcus Morris to the Boston Celtics for point guard Avery Bradley and a 2019 second-round pick. The Celtics traded Bradley as part of an effort to create salary cap room for the four-year, $128 million contract signed by Gordon Hayward. The move gives the Celtics an additional $3.5 million in cap room next season, allowing them to fit Hayward’s huge deal into the cap.
Aside from his outside shooting, Bradley is known for his defense, earning him spots in the All-Defensive Second Team after the 2012-13 season and a place in the All-Defensive First Team last season with the Celtics.
On top of his contribution on defense, Bradley is also known for his offense. Last season, he averaged a career-best 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Pistons can extend Bradley now if they want
The 6-foot-2 Bradley has one year and $8.8 million remaining on the four-year, $32 million deal that he signed with the Celtics in 2014. The Pistons can extend his contract now but they can only give him a two-year deal worth $19 million. A 19th overall pick by Boston in 2010, Bradle was hounded by different injuries throughout his stint with the Celtics. Last season, he was limited to just 55 games due to a lingering hamstring injury. In the early part of his career, Bradley was bothered by a recurring shoulder injury.
The Celtics will get a boost in the frontcourt with the addition of Morris, who averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game last season for the Pistons. He has two years remaining on the four-year, $20 million deal that he signed with the Phoenix Suns. Morris will earn $5 million next season and $5.37 million in the 2018-19 season before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Picked 14th overall by Houston in 2011 out of Kansas, he has averaged 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 416 career games with the Rockets, Suns, and Pistons.
Pistons renounce rights to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons have renounced their rights to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Pistons are hard-capped after signing Langston Galloway so they cannot match any offer that the 24-year-old Caldwell-Pope can receive as a restricted free agent. The Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks are possible destinations for Caldwell-Pope, who was recently suspended by the NBA for two games without pay after he pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
