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Avery Bradley’s 2017-18 season outlook for Pistons

By Duncan Smith

AUBURN HILLS, MI - JULY 13: Detroit Pistons Avery Bradley poses for a portrait on July 13, 2017 at the Detroit Pistons Practice Facility 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - JULY 13: Detroit Pistons Avery Bradley poses for a portrait on July 13, 2017 at the Detroit Pistons Practice Facility 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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In our series of season outlooks for the players on the 2017-18 Detroit Pistons roster, we’ll run through expectations for each. Next up is Avery Bradley.

Entering the free agency period, nobody could have anticipated the events of the next week or so. Instead of re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as expected, the Detroit Pistons capitalized on an opportunity to upgrade at shooting guard while staying under the luxury tax for one more year by trading Marcus Morris to the Boston Celtics for Avery Bradley and a 2019 second round pick.

Bradley represented a talent upgrade on both offense and defense over Caldwell-Pope, allowing the Pistons to get away from what may have proven to be a massive long-term contract.  While Bradley becomes a free agent after next season, it gives the organization another year to evaluate whether or not this roster is worth going deep into the tax for. While this summer, we aren’t really sure what this team is, we’ll have a much more complete picture after next season.

Bradley is coming off one of the best shooting seasons of his career, hitting 46.3 percent from the floor and 39 percent from long range. That three-point percentage would have led the Pistons last year, all while being an elite perimeter defender. After being snubbed for an All-Defensive team spot this summer, NBA players spoke in outrage.

Bradley will play alongside Reggie Jackson (provided Jackson is healthy enough) in the backcourt, and the hope is that a healthier Reggie and an improved defender at the two may make life easier on Andre Drummond in the paint.

Bradley is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season, and he may demand the max. It’ll be imperative for the Detroit Pistons to win, and win alot, if they want to retain the services of a player who has made the playoffs in every year of his career save one, and made the Eastern Conference Finals as the top seed last year with the Celtics. The salary cap climate next season could bode well for the Pistons, as not many teams will project to have max space. The Pistons will have Bradley’s full Bird rights, meaning they can go over the cap to retain him.

Next: Should the Pistons pony up for Kyrie Irving?

Bradley will bring a winning tradition and a gritty attitude that was largely missing for this team last year, so keeping him around will be vital for the Pistons’ long-term success.

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