Is Avery Bradley the key to the Celtics having a successful season?

Boston Celtics shooting guard Avery Bradley had a successful individual season, capped off with his selection in the NBA’s First Team All-Defense. With this accomplishment, Bradley’s market value around the league is higher than ever before.

It’s safe to announce that Boston’s rebuilding phase is officially coming to an end, however Boston’s wealth of assets will likely clog up the roster. When questioned on this years free agency, Danny Ainge said, “we’re not done [with roster moves].”

With recent reports and rumors claiming that the Celtics are interested in making trades for the likes of Russell Westbrook and other All-Star players, Avery Bradley’s future with Boston is uncertain.

Danny Ainge on if he'd be comfortable taking the current roster to opening day: "I think we're not done." — Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 8, 2016

Bradley was selected by the Celtics with pick 19th in the 2010 NBA Draft. He was the first of many guards drafted by Ainge for their physicality and elite defensive prowess, despite his limited offensive ability coming out of college.

Bradley embodies basketball passion and resilience. He has responded to his share of setbacks in the NBA – essentially wasting away his rookie season due to an ankle injury. Bradley would not succumb to adversity as he returned the following season and played his way into the starting line-up, ahead of 10-time all-star, Ray Allen.

The 25-year-old swingman has recorded a consistent increase in his per-game averages in points, assists, steals and blocks since 2014. Most notably, his offensive ability and efficiency is the biggest surprise last season, boasting a career high 15.2 points per game on an impressive 45 per cent field goal percentage.

The combination of elite perimeter defense, natural slashing ability and a developing jump shot may assist him in his potential emergence as one of the best two-way guards in the NBA.

Bradley’s four-year deal with the Celtics is worth $32 million. Considering the new salary cap increase, his contract has proven to be a bargain as he continues his gradual ascension in the NBA ranks.

With just two years left on his deal and an average salary of $8 million, this makes Bradley an easy asset to move as many teams are willing to invest in his services.

However, Avery Bradley’s role with the Celtics has been significant during the rebuilding years and was granted a larger level of offensive responsibility to compensate for the lacking scoring ability on the roster.

Moving forward, the addition of Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas and potentially new players via trade, this will take much of the offensive dependence from Avery and grant him with a lesser role.

In the event that roster changes are made, I believe it would be beneficial to retain Avery Bradley and move him to the bench to be a designated offensive spark or to defend opponent’s best scoring guard.

His growth has been constant and is yet to reach the prime of his career, leading me to believe there’s still more for him to give to the Boston Celtics.

On a championship-level team, bolstered with star players and talented depth at all positions, Avery Bradley would be a role player utilized primarily for his perimeter defense. A comparable player that made an impact on their old team but became a role player is Iman Shumpert’s move from New York to his new role with the NBA Champion, Cleveland Cavaliers.

If the Celtics are able to find a way to retain Bradley’s talents and use them as such, while adding a higher level of talent to their shooting guard or small forward position, it would be worthwhile to keep him around.

However, with teams gearing up for the next NBA season, the decision now lies with Ainge.

The Celtics must determine if it worth running the risk of keeping Bradley and hoping he develops into a star caliber guard or sixth man as he enters his prime. The only other alternative is to trade him for a more valuable asset in order to make a push for Boston’s coveted ‘banner 18’ sooner rather than later.