Avery Bradley, Mason Plumlee, Cory Jefferson

Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) shoots past Brooklyn Nets center Mason Plumlee (1) and forward Cory Jefferson (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2015, in New York. The Celtics won 110-91.

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

The Boston Celtics turned down more than one opportunity to trade Avery Bradley before the February deadline, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe.

In a well-informed piece every Celtics fan should read, Lowe reported Tuesday that "multiple teams offered low first-round picks and expiring contracts for Bradley at the trade deadline, and (Celtics president of basketball operations Danny) Ainge flatly refused."

Bradley signed a four-year, $32-million contract over the summer, which was seen as a possible overpay at the time, but could develop into a bargain when the salary cap goes bonkers in time for the 2016-17 season. The market for him shows other teams value his lockdown defense and growing offensive game -- he still takes too many tough midrange jumpers and cannot get to the free throw line, but has become a legitimate shooter off the move and a solid 3-point threat.

Boston's unwillingness to trade Bradley could be taken as a sign that he is seen as a definite piece for the future. That could be the case. Especially if Marcus Smart develops as a point guard, the three-man backcourt rotation of Bradley, Smart and Isaiah Thomas is an intriguing mix. But the rebuilding situation will be very fluid. Depending on who the Celtics can shake out of free agency and the trade market, their need and/or desire to keep their own players could change.

At the moment, though, the Celtics obviously consider keeping Bradley more important than adding to their ocean of first-round picks. They opted not to take a step backward when they could have at the deadline.