Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking the top five role players on the team
By Ethan Temkin
5.) Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley was one of the more underrated pickups for the Lakers this season. After dealing with injuries the past couple of seasons that have hampered his overall play, Bradley appears to be back on track for another great season of tenacious defense and shot-making.
To start the season, Bradley was inserted into the starting lineup and immediately made an impact, especially on the defensive end. Per CleaningtheGlass, his on/off numbers indicate that opponents saw a -6.9 drop in points per 100 possessions to go along with a 3% drop in eFG% when Bradley was on the floor.
Offensively, Bradley has been a bit of a mixed bag, as he has shown flashes of playmaking and shot creation playing the pseudo point guard alongside LeBron James, but overall the numbers just aren’t in his favor. On the season, Bradley is averaging 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 23.5% shooting from three.
To make matters, Bradley suffered a hairline fracture in his right foot that sidelined him for the better part of a month, which was another factor in his place in this ranking. His return from that injury has been shaky so far, as his offense has regressed. However, his defensive intensity hasn’t lost a step, which makes up for his offensive woes.