NBA trade rumors: Pistons' Avery Bradley is available, but he won't come cheap

Jordan Greer

•
NBA trade rumors: Pistons' Avery Bradley is available, but he won't come cheap image

Less than a year after being sent from the Celtics to the Pistons, Avery Bradley is back on the trade block.

The Pistons have made the veteran shooting guard available in trade talks, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, but suitors for his services likely won't snag Bradley without giving up a big asset. Wojnarowski reports the asking price for Bradley is "significant," even with Bradley set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

TRADE RUMORS: Will Pistons look to add Kemba Walker?

Bradley has seen a notable dropoff in production this season with lower per-game numbers in points and rebounds as well as dips in field goal percentage and 3-point shooting. He is known as a lockdown defender, but even some of his advanced defensive metrics have taken a hit.

The Pistons, who are three games back of the Sixers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, have stumbled as of late, with 11 losses in their last 13 games, including eight losses in a row. NBA.com's John Schuhmann points out the Pistons are 3-17 in games in which Bradley has played since Dec. 1. Over that span, Bradley has averaged 13.3 points per game on 36.8 percent shooting from the field (32.7 percent from 3-point range).

Detroit's recent struggles do not completely fall on Bradley, though. He has missed time with groin and hamstring injuries, and he didn't play in Sunday's 121-104 loss to the Cavs. The team has also missed Reggie Jackson's scoring and playmaking abilities after he sprained his right ankle in late December. (Jackson might not return until late February after the All-Star break.) The Pistons are ranked 21st in offensive rating, and Bradley isn't the only guy taking shots.

However, this is, uh, not great.

MORE: After Cousins injury, three big questions for Pelicans

In a new environment on a playoff team, Bradley could rediscover his old form and give a contender a valuable perimeter defender. Plus, Bradley wouldn't feel the need to handle as much of the offensive burden, and he should find more open looks within the flow of the offense (and keep those jumpers behind the 3-point line). 

But is any team willing to move "significant" pieces for a player set to become a free agent this summer? Bradley is currently making $8.8 million in the final year of his contract. It's undoubtedly going to cost more than that to keep him.

We'll see if the Pistons lower their asking price as the Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches.

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.