Avery Bradley given $3.58 million qualifying offer from the Boston Celtics


According to the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn, the Boston Celtics have given guard Avery Bradley a $3.58 million qualifying offer:


Bradley, whose defense has often provided a spark for the Celtics, has been plagued by injuries. He played 60 games during the 2013-2014 season, averaging 30.9 minutes / 14.9 points / 3.8 rebounds / 1.8 assists / 1.1 steals.

One question mark is whether other teams will offer Bradley a substantial increase in salary.  Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix has suggested that Bradley could be offered between 7-9 million from other teams, so we will see if that proves to be true:

The price for signing guard Avery Bradley could go as high as $7 million to $9 million per season, rival executives tell Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

Bradley is a restricted free agent, meaning the Celtics can match any other offer thrown his way. Still, that's a hefty pay increase for someone who made $2.5 million this season playing on his rookie contract.

At this point the Celtics probably don't even know whether or not they can afford to sign Bradley given the uncertainty of their roster for next season. I personally think he's the kind of guard every team needs, a specialist whose plus (on-ball defense) is so great it makes him worth having around. Time will tell what price he actually commands on the open market.

If so, Boston could match those offers, but with new draftees Marcus Smart and James Young to play his position on rookie contracts, the Celtics front office will have to evaluate whether it's financially viable to keep him. Bradley has shown signs of being a stud, but the question remains if he can stay healthy.


Photo: Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

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