Potential Los Angeles Lakers buyout target: Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley was included in the Miami Heat’s trade to acquire former all-star guard Victor Oladipo. Bradley was signed to a one-year deal by Miami following the 2019-20 season, which was viewed as a risk as we had no idea what kind of shape Bradley was in.
Bradley opted out of participating in the NBA bubble and thus was not with the Lakers during their title reign. He was still able to get a $5.6 million contract from the Heat, which now should be bought out by the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets have no reason to keep Bradley. The team’s M-O this season is tanking to ensure their draft selection does not go to the Oklahoma City Thunder as it is top-four protected. Getting into that top four and having the worst record possible is the front office’s goal at this point.
As far as Bradley as a player, it is a weird fit on the Lakers. The Lakers could certainly use some backcourt help, but it has to be the right help. The team has struggled at times defensively and could use another solid defensive wing and would also benefit from a three-point shooter.
Bradley just has not been that good this year. He has only appeared in 10 games, and has posted a Defensive Box Plus/Minus of -0.6. Sure, he is shooting 42.1% from beyond the arc, but that is such a minuscule sample size and simply cannot be trusted.
Bradley has been loosely connected to the Los Angeles Lakers, but I still am not a big fan of the fit.