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NBA Trade Grades: Celtics to unload Avery Bradley to Pistons

By Gerald Bourguet

BOSTON - DECEMBER 3: The Pistons Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Celtics Avery Bradley both eye a first half loose ball. The Boston Celtics hosted the Detroit Pistons in a regular season NBA game at TD Garden. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - DECEMBER 3: The Pistons Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Celtics Avery Bradley both eye a first half loose ball. The Boston Celtics hosted the Detroit Pistons in a regular season NBA game at TD Garden. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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NBA Trade Grades
AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 10: Marcus Morris #13 of the Detroit Pistons leaves the court after the final NBA game at the Palace of Auburn Hills against the Washington Wizards on April 10, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Boston Celtics

In a vacuum, this trade would be a clear loss for the Celtics. Marcus Morris is a useful role player, but he doesn’t measure up to Avery Bradley on either end of the floor. From defensive versatility to three-point shooting to scoring punch, Bradley is the better player in nearly every facet of the game.

However, Boston needed to clear cap room to land one of the summer’s best free agents, making someone expendable in the Bradley-Crowder-Smart trio. Keeping the younger bulldog Smart makes the most sense, while Crowder’s team-friendly contract will either serve Boston well for the next three seasons or will be dealt to bring in further upgrades to the frontcourt.

In any case, with Bradley being an unrestricted free agent next summer, joining Isaiah Thomas (unrestricted) and Marcus Smart (restricted) in the process, something had to give in the backcourt.

IT has become the team’s offensive dynamo and most likable player, making it unlikely the Celtics would consider anything but a max contract for him next summer. Smart’s status as an X-factor and his youth would make it hard to give up on his potential as well.

That left Bradley as the player most likely to be pried from the roster in free agency next summer. It was unrealistic for the Celtics to be able to re-sign him, so getting value for him now makes sense.

Not only does this deal clear the way for Hayward, but it also adds frontcourt insurance with Marcus Morris, and could allow the Celtics to deal Jae Crowder in their search for more size and rebounding at the 4.

Starting Hayward and Crowder alongside one another for a full 82-game season was unlikely, since neither one is suited to guard bigger power forwards in a small-ball lineup for such a substantial amount of minutes.

This deal brings Morris into the fold as the team’s current starting power forward. Last season, Mook averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, but he only shot 41.8 percent from the floor and 33.1 percent from downtown. He’s a good, versatile defender, but his paltry rebounding numbers suggest the Celtics still have work to do to shore up their biggest weakness.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

The Celtics lost the best player in this deal, which is never a good sign. They also sent away a 2019 second round pick for the lesser player in the trade. However, the move clears cap room to make Hayward a reality and ensures Boston wasn’t going to lose Bradley for nothing next summer, which is what’s most important here.

Grade: A-

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