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More on Avery Bradley Free Agency
Tim Reynolds: The second year of Avery Bradley is a Heat option, source tells AP.
Shams Charania: Free agent Avery Bradley has agreed to a two-year, $11.6M deal with the Miami Heat, his agent Charles Briscoe tells @The Athletic @Stadium.
Shams Charania: Bradley was sold on the Heat’s culture and Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler recruited him to leave Los Angeles, sources said.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be first in line to speak with two of their free agents Dwight Howard and Avery Bradley when free agency opens, league sources told HoopsHype. Both players are also expected to draw interest from several contenders as well. Howard has reportedly been linked to the Golden State Warriors, and Bradley has been linked to the Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks thus far.
Hoop Central: Avery Bradley would prefer to stay with the Lakers, via @ramonashelburne. She also mentioned the Warriors, Bucks, and Hornets are interested in Bradley.
Chris Haynes: Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley is declining his $5 million player option for the 2020-21 season and hitting free agency, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Guard Avery Bradley, who has changed agents, and center JaVale McGee have not made a decision on their options yet, according to multiple people.
Chris Haynes: Yahoo Sources: Potential free agent Avery Bradley to be courted by Golden State, Milwaukee and several contenders in attempt to lure him away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Davis is one of a handful of L.A.'s championship pieces who could test free agency this week. Guards Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Avery Bradley also have player options available that they are expected to decline. JaVale McGee also has a player option worth $4.2 million that he could pick up, considering the market for traditional big men and his fit playing with Davis. Dwight Howard and Markieff Morris are set to become unrestricted free agents.
Omari Sanfoka II: By trading C.J. Miles for Dwight Howard and waiving Avery Bradley, Grizzlies have trimmed about $14M from the books. Puts them roughly $15M under the luxury tax line, making space for additional moves
Chris Herrington: Can confirm David Aldridge report of Grizzlies waiving Avery Bradley, which had become all but a formality. Today is supposed to be the guarantee date on Dillon Brooks. The assumption is he'll be guaranteed but that hasn't been confirmed.
David Aldridge: Grizz aren’t finished. Per source, they have waived veteran SG Avery Bradley. His 2019-20 salary ($12.9M) would have been guaranteed last Thursday. Memphis will have to pay Bradley his $2M guaranteed for next year. Grizz continue to get further below the cap line for more moves.
Zach Lowe: The second year of Avery Bradley's two-year, $25 million deal with the Clippers is only partially guaranteed, league sources say. Acts almost as a team option. If Clips decide not to guarantee Year 2, Bradley will receive a total of $14 million for one season of play.
Shams Charania: Sources: Free agent Avery Bradley has agreed to a 2 year, $25M deal with the Clippers.
Brad Turner: Clippers meeting with Avery Bradley tomorrow to discuss re-signing him, per source.
Kevin O'Connor: The Suns are interested in Rockets free agent forward Trevor Ariza, per sources. Avery Bradley and Julius Randle also mentioned as targets. The Suns can create around $18 million in salary cap space.
Golden State has also discussed Avery Bradley as an option, which comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen the eight-year veteran hound the Warriors’ scorers these past few years.
Avery Bradley, the two-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. The Clippers have interest in re-signing Bradley, a source said.
Whatever happens with Bradley, whether he is traded at the deadline or walks as an unrestricted free agent – it doesn’t seem like he’ll be re-signed – I think the Pistons made the right move by not locking in Caldwell-Pope to a long-term deal worth more than $20 million a season.
Rod Beard: #Pistons SVG on Avery Bradley being in a contract year. "He knew right from the time we got him that we made the move thinking it would be a long-term thing but he knows it’s not something we’re going to talk to him at all about during the season."
Rod Beard: #Pistons SVG on chances to re-sign Avery Bradley: "I’ll take our chances in the offseason. I’m just happy we have him right now."
Jay King: Reporter: Do you see Detroit as a long-term (fit)? Avery Bradley: "I can't answer that question now. We'll see as the year goes on and once that time comes I'll worry about it. But right now I'm just focusing on basketball."
A free agent next offseason, it’s obvious both sides are interested in a long-term commitment. “It’s been really good for me so far,” Bradley said. “We have a great group of guys, a great coaching staff that’s pushing us every day and I feel like we are going to continue to grow as a group.”
Just as Van Gundy had the word of Pistons owner Tom Gores that it was OK to wade into luxury tax territory to retain Caldwell-Pope, he expects the same marching orders next summer to keep Bradley. “In the right situation for the right people, Tom’s more than willing to pay the tax,” Van Gundy said. “I think about half the league’s going to be paying the tax this year. Tom’s not opposed to that.”
It’s also not a fait accompli that the Pistons will need to cross that threshold to retain Bradley. Van Gundy, general manager Jeff Bower and associate GM Pat Garrity, the organization’s point man on cap issues, have game planned for multiple scenarios with regard to the cap and roster for next summer. “We’ve got other strategies,” Van Gundy said. “The finances will not inhibit our ability to re-sign Avery at whatever it takes. If we’re in a situation where we want Avery back and Avery wants to be here, we’ll be able to bring him back.”
Sources close to the process believe that Detroit traded for Bradley knowing full well it would be very expensive to retain him beyond this season, however, if he is everything they hope he’ll be, they have no issues paying him. The wrinkle in all of this is the Pistons as a team. If Detroit continues to be middling as they were last season, would it be smarter to trade off Bradley at the trade deadline and get value? The other option is to keep investing in a team that is not appearing to turn the corner.
The situation, incidentally, is the same with Avery Bradley, and some league general managers are saying his defensive abilities, coupled with an improving offensive skill set, could make him a big get if he’s allowed to become a free agent in 2018.
