Phoenix Suns Lingering Free Agents to Sign: Avery Bradley
Nearly halfway through last year’s regular season, the Miami Heat sent Avery Bradley packing for Houston as a contributing piece to the deal which landed them Victor Oladipo. Between each team, Bradly played only 27 games though while nursing knee and calf injuries.
Bradley also averaged his lowest field goal percentage and points per game since his rookie season last year, likely coming as the main factor behind Houston’s refusal to pick him up with their team option. That certainly suggests that his best playing days lie firmly behind him; but do not let that ideology prompt you to just close the book on his career just yet. Bradley still possesses some usefulness, especially if applied accordingly.
The Suns already wield a top tier NBA backcourt with Paul, Booker, Payne, Nader, and newcomer Landry Shamet all aboard for the 2021-22 season. So if Bradley were to throw on the Phoenix threads as well, he would rarely need to play big minutes, making him well worth whatever minimum deal they extend his way.
During sets where the Suns find themselves struggling at the defensive end though, Bradley might hear his name called, as he worked as a real stopper at the top of the key for the Los Angeles Lakers no more than two years ago. He still carries the lateral quickness which once allowed him to make a name for himself as an NBA player, and might need to do so again for the Suns given the situaiton.
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Bradley holds greater value just as a game manager and contributing voice on the bench though, as an 11-year veteran with 39 career playoff games under his belt. We know not what roadblocks the Suns might run into next year, and as an already young team, they might need a player like Bradley more than you think. Based on all these variables, he at least deserves a shot.