Los Angeles Lakers: 3 former players unsigned in 2021 NBA Free Agency
By Dalton Sell
Los Angeles Lakers: Avery Bradley remains unsigned in NBA Free Agency
While he has become somewhat of a journeyman over the past few years, Avery Bradley was a key piece for the Lakers during the 2019-20 season. He would ultimately miss out on the team’s title run as he opted out of the NBA’s resumption of play, and although they managed to win the title without him, they certainly missed his presence.
Bradley has been named to two All-Defensive teams in his career, making a name for himself as arguably the best perimeter defender at the guard position. That defensive excellence was a big boost for Los Angeles on a nightly basis. On the offensive end, Bradley has also been a serviceable shooter from 3-point territory over his 11 years in the NBA by knocking down 36.3 percent of his shot attempts. He has also shown a knack for scoring the basketball by averaging double figures in five seasons previously.
With such a notable reputation as a solid 3-and-D guard, one would think that many contenders would be lining up to sign Bradley. However, injuries have hindered his chances to make a roster, especially after being limited to 27 games last year. As the former Laker looks for a new home, a contending team might be wise to take a gamble on him. The injury concerns are still there, but Bradley would help improve any team’s shooting efforts and any potential defensive concerns.
One such team that could sign Bradley is the Dallas Mavericks. They traded away their starting shooting guard this offseason in Josh Richardson, and while bringing in Bradley does not fill that void on impact, he would be an experienced guard to bring into the mix. Bradley would fit perfectly next to Luka Doncic due to his 3-and-D skills, and he could give the team some added guard depth as they look to make some noise in the Western Conference next season.