Official NBA 2010 Draft and Avery Bradley Thread

[Sam]

Rather than watching 35 separate threads posted about this stuff, I thought it might be wise to have one official thread.

Good luck Celtics,

Sam

[Brandon$$]

With the 19th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics draft:

* Avery Antonio Bradley, Jr.
* Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
* Height/Weight: 6-2 / 180
* Birthdate: November 26, 1990
* College: Texas

[gyso]

Avery Bradley:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Avery-Bradley-5285/

[NYCelt]

OK; Avery Bradley.

I'm not really getting it.

Good player, was rated a first round talent but is going to have to learn to play the point in the NBA. Very good defender, not a good outside shooter. Perhaps they were thinking a combo guard for depth but there were two or three others still available who might be more skilled as point guards.

Several good centers were still available, and a couple of NBA ready wings as well.

Not a disappointing guy to have around, I'm just wondering if something more is up.

[Brandon$$]

http://www.nba.com/draft2010/prospects/avery-bradley/


Career Highlights: A Big 12 All-Freshman Team and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection in 2009-10. Competed for the USA Junior Select Team in the 2009 Nike Hoop Summit as a high school senior.


Freshman (2009-10): Ranked second on Texas in scoring (11.6 ppg), steals (44) and minutes played (29.5 mpg). Shot 37.5 percent from three-point range and recorded an impressive 18 blocks. A Big 12 All-Rookie Team selection by the league coaches and Big 12 All-Freshman Team by the media. Named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the coaches. Posted season highs in points (29) and rebounds (9) vs. Colorado, shooting 12-of-14 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point range. Recorded 25 points and five rebounds vs. Nebraska. Had 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals at Iowa State, converting 10-fo-14 shots. Totaled 21 points and three steals at Oklahoma, shooting 9-of-16 from the field.


High School: Spent his senior year at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, averaging 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals. Led Findlay to a 33-0 record and the mythical high school national championship. Named the ESPNRISE.com High School National Player of the Year and ranked as the No. 1 prospect nationally by ESPNU. A McDonald's All-American and Jordan All-American. Won the slam dunk contest at the McDonald's All-American Game. First-team Parade Magazine All-American. Recorded 21 points (10-of-14 FG) in 29 minutes for the USA Junior Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit. Transferred to Findlay after spending his freshman through junior years at Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.).


Strengths: Quick and explosive athlete, who plays bigger than his height. Excellent defender. Can create his own shot and score off the dribble. Solid mid-range shooter.



Personal: Became a Texas fan when his family lived in Arlington, Texas from 2001-04. Family moved back to Tacoma in the summer prior to his eighth grade year (2004).

[NYCelt]

I wonder if they took him with the intent of moving the pick; perhaps there's a deal in the works.

[babyskyhook]

I like Bradley. I think it's a good pick for you guys.

[gyso]

From DraftExpress:

West Coast Workout Swing Part 3: Joe Abunassar's Impact Basketball
May 18, 2010
Joseph Treutlein

Quite possibly the most impressive player in attendance here, Avery Bradley put on an outstanding shooting display in both drills and scrimmages, showing off his picture perfect form while many times making those in attendance wonder if he can miss a shot. In drills, Bradley looked very smooth pulling up off a confident dribble, knocking down a variety of shots, while also showing off his excellent athleticism in transition, putting his 37.5 inch vertical leap to good use.

Where Bradley really impressed though was the scrimmages, where his team rarely lost and he made great use of the floor’s spacing, getting to open spots of the floor with ease, showing no troubles getting separation from his man. With his excellent body control, balance, and elevation, Bradley just needs a glimmer of space to get his shot off, and he showed that especially playing the pick-and-roll game. Bradley hit a variety of pull-up jumpers from the mid-range and from behind the arc, many with a hand in his face, which didn’t seem to do much. He incorporated in some hesitation dribbles and fakes to get separation when his first move didn’t work, but mostly didn’t need it, just being so proficient out of simple pick-and-rolls.

Bradley was able to dominate constantly looking for his shot out of pick-and-rolls, but he didn’t really excel finding his teammates, something that wasn’t problematic here but did lead to some troubles at Texas this past season, as he’s prone to showing tunnel vision looking for his own shot. While it’s tough to take much concrete from these scrimmages, nothing we saw here suggested Bradley is yet ready to be a full-time point guard in the NBA, in line with what we saw from him all season.

Bradley also didn’t show much in terms of finishing at the rim, though to be fair the way he was playing, he didn’t need to try. He is a bouncy athlete in space for sure, but he did have some troubles finishing at the rim in college this season, and it’d be nice to see him continue to work on his floater.

Defensively, Bradley likewise shined, using his full 6’7 wingspan to great use, never giving up on a play, and constantly trying to affect plays from behind when beat. He did a good job battling through pick-and-rolls and played physical, intense defense pretty much every possession, having some great battles with the other small guards here. Bradley also appeared to be a very good teammate, encouraging others and being pretty vocal in general.

Seeing Bradley run so many pick-and-rolls and play in an environment with much more spacing than he saw at Texas, it’s not hard to see many reasons why he has the potential to be a better NBA player than he was in college, especially if he can go to a system that emphasizes those two concepts. Bradley’s 6’7 wingspan also bodes well for his chances of defending shooting guards at the next level, at least reserves, many of which are 6’5 and under. While there are questions about his position, Bradley certainly brings quite a few NBA skills to the table, and could be capable of contributing immediately in the right situation, though situation should be critical to his early chances at success.

[babyskyhook]

I think he was BPA.

Getting a big is a more pressing need, but you know what they say about drafting for need......

Bradley can def back up Rondo immediately.

[babyskyhook]

I love the fact that Durant is at the draft. He seems like a really good kid who loves the game and respects it.

[Brandon$$]

http://hoopshype.com/twitter_media.html

A. Sherrod Blakely: doc says he will make a decision on returning before July 1

Rich Levine: Doc says he consulted his son, Jeremiah, who played against Bradley in college last season

Rich Levine: Doc says Bradley was one of only two guys on celtics draft board. Calls him an NBA defender

Rich Levine: "if I'm coaching next year, I'll be here. But I just don't know yet." - Doc

[gyso]

[gyso]

[RosalieTCeltics]

The next guy chosen in the draft after Bradley was Anderson. He seems to have alot more upside than Bradley. 6'5", athletic, a shooter. Backup to become a starter at the two spot? Sometimes I don't get Danny. Another small point guard. Is he going somewhere with this guy?

[gyso]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/410066-avery-bradley-the-answer-to-raptor-fans-prayers

Colangelo's next step will be to try and trade a point guard—Calderon or Jack—to make room for who I believe will be Toronto's draft choice, 13th overall, combo guard Avery Bradley.

Yes, I'm saying it now, if Bradley is available at 13, the Raptors should grab him and run. Not since the days the Raptors had Alvin Williams did the Raptors have a combo guard who can score, defend, and be a leader on the floor like Bradley has the ability to become.

Bradley's greatest attribute is his defense. He's a great on the ball, man defender and actually loves to play defense. He has the athleticism and quickness to become a true lock-down defender in the NBA. The possibility is there that he can become an All NBA Defensive Team member.

The Raptors greatest weakness in years past has been their perimeter defense. The poor defense can be attributed mostly to possibly the worst man defender in the league, Jose Calderon. The point guard initiates the play and if he gets free reign on the court, you'd think the team will be very successful offensively. For what Calderon gives you on offence, it gets cancelled off by what he provides on the defensive end.

With the possible addition of Bradley to a very athletic backcourt which includes sophomore DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems, the perimeter defense could take a turn for the better in the next few years.

My stance on the NBA Draft is simple, draft the best player available regardless of the position. If you draft for need, you run the risk of a Rafael Araujo like epic failure. Raptor fans truly don't want to see that again. If Bradley is the best left, you take him and you run if you're the Raptors.

What I don't want to see is the Raptors decide to draft a power forward just because they lost Chris Bosh via Free Agency. There are many avenues to replace his game on the team such as a sign and trade or signing some other free agent. Unless the player is the best available, I don't try and immediately replace Bosh at the draft unless it involves a trade that night.

With adding Bradley at the draft, it also gives the Raptors a true combo guard on the team. A player that can create their own shot and can adequately set up others. It's been a long time since we've seen a player who can create something out of nothing, the days of Vince Carter. I've always liked the idea of adding a player like Jamal Crawford or Barbosa as a sixth man on this team, so adding Bradley instead seems like a logical move.

Bradley will instantly become the Raptors best perimeter defender and arguably their best defender on the team. Pretty sad when a rookie could be your best defender, but that is the reality of the Toronto situation, and it's been like this for years. The Raptors whole situation is a jumbled mess right now, but hopefully Avery Bradley can help stop the bleeding and bring the Raptors back from possible extinction.

[RosalieTCeltics]

I guess that answers my question. Thanks Gyso!!

[gyso]

The next guy chosen in the draft after Bradley was Anderson. He seems to have alot more upside than Bradley. 6'5", athletic, a shooter. Backup to become a starter at the two spot? Sometimes I don't get Danny. Another small point guard. Is he going somewhere with this guy?

Rosalie,

Bradley supposedly is NBA ready on the defensive end.

He has the athleticism and quickness to become a true lock-down defender in the NBA. The possibility is there that he can become an All NBA Defensive Team member.

Sounds good to me.

Here is what they say about Anderson at DraftExpress:

The biggest chink in Anderson’s armor and the main thing holding him back from being able to project him as an outstanding NBA role-player has always been his play on the defensive end. Unfortunately, not much seems to have changed this year. Anderson isn’t much of a presence at all on the perimeter, looking very upright in his stance and showing below average lateral quickness, getting beat on a regular basis off the dribble by fairly mediocre college slashers. He doesn’t use his body well enough, lacks a significant degree of physicality in his approach, and does not utilize his length at all to contest opponents’ shots.

[gyso]

Avery Bradley | NBADraft.net

Strengths: An athletic guard with excellent explosiveness, Bradley has a long wingspan which helps make up for his lack of height for a shooting guard (6'3 in sneakers) ... Bradley's biggest asset offensively is his ability to shoot from the outside ... He can hit from a catch and shoot position, and looks beyond comfortable pulling up off the dribble ... His high release and strong elevation, along with his quick first step allow him to create just enough separation to get off a shot ... He has basic ball moves when it comes to creating separation, but mainly uses his quickness/athleticism to get the room he needs ...What should make Bradley a late lottery to mid-first round pick is his ability to be a lock down defender ... He uses his long arms and persistent nature, constantly causing havoc for whoever is handling the ball... His off the ball defense is no different, and if you watch him follow his man around the court, you'll notice the focus and concentration he has on trying to prevent his man from getting the ball ... His defensive intensity shows he takes pride on this side of the ball, and makes it seem like he wants to be the best perimeter defender in the league, which he might have been his freshman year at Texas...

Weaknesses: An undersized shooting guard, Bradley's biggest obstacle will be his inability to make plays for others ... When he puts the ball on the floor, it's almost a guarantee that he is looking for his own offense, as he lacks the vision, playmaking ability and awareness to find his teammates for a better scoring opportunity ... His size and lack of strength will make it a lot tougher for him to get off the shots in the pros that he got off in college ... Another issue surrounding Bradley is his inability to get to the free throw line, as he attempted less than 2 free throws per game while hitting only 54% of his opportunities ... At times he drives uncontrollably to the basket, and lacks that sense of when to kick it out, or when to pull up ... He wasn't very efficient at scoring when attacking the rim, and against better and taller help defenders at the next level, he will have to work on his body control when penetrating by using a variety of different touch and finesse shots over defenders in the post ... Defensively, most shooting guards will be able to shoot over him, limiting his availability to guarding mostly point guards or other undersized 2 guards...

Overall: Bradley's projection in the draft as been all over the map, from lottery selection to bubble first rounder... He entered his freshman year being one of the top recruits in the country (#1 in some places), and then disappointed some with an inconsistent first year in college... The ultimate goal would be for him to play a Russell Westbrook role, being more of an athletic and explosive combo guard who can play the 1... His athleticism, explosiveness, and most importantly his ability to play perimeter defense will allow him to find a role in the NBA... There is always room for a guy who can shoot and defend, so don't be surprised if a GM falls in love with him in the late lottery...

[gyso]

Here is a video about draft sleepers. Avery Bradley is mentioned.

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/nba/20412443;_ylt=AmnSj6HaF2uLcFdvdVmHDk.8vLYF#nba/20412443

[RosalieTCeltics]

Watching the interviews after the pick, it seems he was on their radar for a long time and was only one of two players they were going to take. If either weren't available, then they would have traded the pick.

Oklahoma is going to town tonight. They are going to be one heck of a young ball club. I thought I just heard that they got the rights to Baron Davis, that will help the young players along, especially with his experience. Very interesting evening all around.

It seems that most of those announcers have already written the Celtics off. so it will be interesting how they rebuild and play. Rasheed made it definite, he is retiring. Quick, get him to sign the papers. As great as he was in the post season, he was worse during the regular season. I had mention to my son in January that I thought he would retire, especially if he got a ring. I think the price was just too hard on him to stick around.

Now.....what the heck is going on with PP?

[NYCelt]

Not really getting tonight's picks.

Bradley is a good defender with an outside shot that needs work and will need to learn to play the point. He's undersized for a 2-guard. Overall a decent guard and could add depth but his ability to play the point and back up Rondo is an unknown.

Luke Harangody certainly had a great career at Notre Dame, but because he doesn't fit as an NBA PF and isn't nearly quick or agile enough to play SF it was thought he might not even be drafted. He is a good rebounder, especially on the offensive glass, but he stands all of 6'6".

Both seem to be good character guys and solid players at the college level. Each has a single particular skill that may fit at the NBA level but neither are really NBA ready players.

Personally I liked both as college players, although Bradley was only there for one year, but wonder why other alternatives that seemed to fit our team needs were available but bypassed with each pick.

Obviously as just a fan I'm missing something, but this looks like a waste to me. I'm still wondering if these picks were made because other moves will be involved.

[jeb]

I too was happy to see Sheed go. I know he played well in the playoffs but damn man he was a horror show in the regular season and he never got in shape.

Seems like a good draft. The Notre Dame kid can def shoot and rebound. Seems like a Hansborough type and the texas kid can d. I live in Austin I will ask around about the kid and report back.

Jeb

[babyskyhook]

I like Bradley a lot. He's an elite athlete and is already a lockdown defender. I would have loved for LA to trade up into the first round to get him. I think he instantly solidifies the pg position, and could even play a little backup 2 on occasion.

I laughed when they announced the Harangody pick, though. I think he's going to be terrible at the NBA level. My friends and I were all terrified when we saw the Lakers had him in for a workout. He had ONE basket (a meaningless putback as time expired) in the game vs ODU in the NCAA tourney this year when ND got knocked out in the first round. One basket from the guy who is supposed to carry the team. He's undersized and unathletic- a deadly combination at the NBA level.


Sheed retiring is a real gift, though. Instantly clears $6m off the books and I would think guarantees that the Cs use the mle to sign someone else this summer.


So all in all, I think it was a very good day for you guys.

[jeb]

sky

You diggin the avatars?

Jeb

[babyskyhook]

Oh man- they are awesome.

You guys are being such good sports about it, though, that instead of doing it for a month, I'm going to change the bet so that you only do it until July 1st.

That's the start of the new NBA year anyway.

Sound good ?

How you doing in general ?

You done with the gig in BIg Sky country ?

[Sponsored content]