The free agent the Los Angeles Lakers should absolutely re-sign
Throughout the massively disappointing 2021-22 season, a few bright spot stood for the Los Angeles Lakers. One of these was certainly the last-minute addition of Avery Bradley.
Signed right before opening night, the 6’3″ guard, who already had a stint in purple and gold in 2020, immediately revealed himself as a key contributor to a team that all but lacked defensive prowess. His effort and energy on defense proved crucial for the Lakers’ attempts to navigate a difficult season trying to find the right formula that would allow them to be competitive.
So much that after the first six games Bradley was promoted to the starting lineup and retained the role for a good chunk of the season.
With countless injuries and team results struggling to come, he later fell victim of the infinite attempts by the coaching staff to shuffle the cards in order to find a successful rotation, but still kept proving his reliability and essentiality to the team on both ends of the floor.
While trying to reshape their roster with a more 3-and-D approach around their big three, it appears surprising that the Lakers have not already re-signed Bradley.
The Los Angeles Lakers certainly should re-sign Avery Bradley.
The former 19th pick is a respected veteran with a track record of success. The reason the Lakers managed to grab him last season at the last moment was fortuitous. The eventual-champion Golden State Warriors cut him at the very end of preseason, with reports of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green unhappy with the decision by the front office.
Since he has had a long career and has ended up bouncing around the league a lot after his Boston tenure, we get the impression of an old veteran on his way to irrelevancy. But Avery is actually just 31 years old, still in his prime, although he lately had to accept lesser roles in order to find employment.
However, wherever he went, he kept providing his effort and contribution, thus earning his next contract and providing himself “one more day” in the league.
Bradley proved his worth and fit more than once in LA. Last season, in addition to his well-known defensive effort, he shot 39 percent from three.
At this point the only reason in delaying an offer, is the awareness that he does not really have a market. So the Lakers might be counting on the chance to sign him to a veteran minimum contract closer to the start of training camp when they will have to round up the roster with the remaining available spots.
Failing to bring back the defensive hound would represent a big mistake for the Los Angeles Lakers front office, missing on a piece which is a sure bet catalyst to success.