11:09pm: The Lakers have officially signed Bradley, the team announced tonight (via Twitter).
12:00pm: Once he clears waivers later today after being released by the Grizzlies, veteran guard Avery Bradley intends to sign a two-year, $9.7MM contract with the Lakers, agent Bill Duffy tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Los Angeles still has its full $4.8MM room exception available, so Bradley will slot into that exception now that the club has used all of its cap room. The second year of his new deal will be a player option, Wojnarowski notes.
Bradley, 28, has bounced around the league since spending the first seven seasons of his NBA career in Boston. The Celtics traded him to the Pistons during the 2017 offseason, but he was subsequently flipped to the Clippers and then the Grizzlies.
Despite the constant movement, Bradley finished strong in 2018/19, averaging 16.1 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 3.1 RPG with a .463/.384/.920 shooting line in 14 games (31.6 MPG) for Memphis. The combo guard is also considered a strong perimeter defender.
However, his $12.96MM salary for 2019/20 was only partially guaranteed for $2MM, and the rebuilding Grizzlies decided to create some extra cap flexibility by releasing him on Saturday and avoiding that guarantee. As cap guru Albert Nahmad observes (via Twitter), Memphis will also get to set off $1.66MM of that $2MM as a result of Bradley’s new deal with Los Angeles.
Bradley will slot into a Lakers backcourt that features Rajon Rondo and Quinn Cook at the point, with Danny Green, Troy Daniels, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope among those who could see time at the two. Alex Caruso will also be in the mix.
By my count, the Lakers now have 13 players lined up for their regular-season roster, plus unsigned second-rounder Talen Horton-Tucker, who figures to occupy one of the final two roster spots. If the club adds a 15th man via free agency, he’ll have to sign a minimum-salary contract. Zach Norvell Jr. and a second two-way player will also factor into the equation.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lakers still need PG depth unless they plan on using Bradley or Lebron
Bradley?
Nvm I was thinking beal
Point guard depth? They also have Rondo and cook who are bold point guards not too bad. They are very solid on the bench at all five positions
Yea Avery can handle the rock. So can Beverley and Rondo and Bron.
Beverly? Patrick? he’s on Clippers. im sure you know that tho.
This is just a mess of comments.
Rondo, Bradley, Cook, Carusso
The rock! Sounds so cool calling a ball that.
“The orange” doesn’t sound quite the same.
Caruso, Bradley, rondo, cook. How much more PG depth is needed?
Would think between Rondo and Cook as true PGs, Bradley who can play some point, and LeBron…they should be all set
How many point guards do you think a team needs? They have already said they’re going to run out LeBron at the point they also have rondo and cook those are two natural point guards Bradley can also be a point I don’t know how many more you need
They already announced that Lebron will now be starting at PG.
They’re thin at SF.
Bron playing point.
Kuzma more of a 4 but he’ll likely start the 3.
Dudley too washed up.. KCP too small ..
need to bring back Lance or something.
Lance? Lol. He can sit the bench somewhere else.
They need sf depth badly, so far on paper they only have bron. I hope iggy gets bought out so they can pick him up to complete bench. I think lakers are extremely deep with ample shooting and mobile bigs. While the clips may be viewed as favorites all there players lack court vision and big bodies inside.
This signing should heavily imply they intend to slot Green and KCP into some minutes at the 3 too.
One more slot and it either goes to Korver or Iguodala.
Fingers crossed.
Why do the lakers keep paying KCP?
He’s a decent SG. they need outside shooting. being a Rich Payl client doesn’t hurt either.
I think it’s more that they need the defense on the wing, and he was the most obvious 3 and D wing left at the time
The Lakers have the best team in the league by far. LeBron and Davis are top 5, Cousins will be 70-80 percent of himself at the center position which is far from bad. Kuzma is likely jumping his averages up in points if LeBron decides to play point guard behind Rondo.
Green,Daniels,Bradley,Kuzma,LeBron,Davis,and Dudley can all knock down 3’s.
By far???? I’m a long time Laker fan and there’s no way they’re the best bar far. They old and could breakdown any time. Let’s pump the brakes before we crown them anything especially since they’ve missed the playoffs 6 straight seasons.
Lakers are old? Are you serious? The only player on the roster who is over the age of 33 is LeBron everyone else is 33 or under. Anthony is 26 cousins is 28 Kuzma is 23 Green is 29 Bradley is 28 I could go on but I think I made my point.
Rondo – 33, McGee – 31.5, LeBron – 34.5, Green – 32, Dudley – 33 and if they sign Igy or Korver that’ll be 6 (30+) players. They’re old so get over yourself.
5 people in the 30’s makes the whole team old?
who has an older roster in the NBA? It has to be one of the oldest. Compare the Lakers players ages vs Clippers or other teams in the West
‘Melo for the minimum will put them over the top. If he won’t, get Korver.
Good one, I thought you were serious for a second.
Lakers signing everybody. When does the “buying championships” narrative start?
Lmao
I think it’s more about depth. Dude, our third string can put up some points. Smh
So now that they’ve used up all their cap space can they still sign Korver to a minimum contract if he’s bought out? The nba cap space always confuses me so I’m sorry in advance lol
Yes, teams can sign minimum salary contracts no matter what their cap situation is (well, unless they’ve hard-capped themselves and are right up against that hard cap).
I thought minimum salary players are allowed to complete your roster regardless of your cap situation, even if you are “hard” capped. It’s possible you could be forced to take rookies on minimum salary if you are hard-capped instead of signing players for the veterans’ minimum, but I couldn’t see teams being prevented from carrying a complete roster. I think there are penalties for not completing your roster.
They do have to complete their roster. If they can’t do that without surpassing the hard cap, then they have to shed salary to do it (which is essentially what the Warriors have been doing for the last week).
What’s the minimum any player without service time on a standard (non-2-way) contract can make for a year? $887,500? I’d think it’d be easier to fill your roster with those players than to get out of or around current commitments. Of course, you are compromising your depth. Veterans would be out of the question if there are no exceptions to the hard cap.
$898,310 this year. The problem with those guys is that if you sign them as free agents, they still count the same as a veteran’s minimum contract for tax purposes ($1,620,564).
A team’s draft picks who sign for the minimum only count for $898,310 toward the tax/apron, which is why Alen Smailagic and Eric Paschall will be pretty crucial for the Warriors sneaking under the hard cap.
Regardless of your salary situation you can sign players to minimum contracts which it seems what a lot of guys are willing to do to be part of this Laker squad.
As long as it is a minimum contract and there is an empty roster spot which in the Lakers case there is they can sign Korver to a minimum deal.
Was definitely an obvious fit when he was getting cut by Memphis. Definitely a big move for them, in my opinion. I could see him starting over Rondo at the PG spot. Regardless, he gives them an option there, as a combo guard that still defends, and he can shoot. I’ve been a big fan of him for a long time. I could see them adding maybe 1 more guy, but their roster is pretty solid for what they had available to them.
They just need Kyle Korver…. then we’re set!!!
Korver is garbage bro.
Reports are the Lakers are starting LeBron at PG, which I actually speculated on in one of the previous articles. I could see that making some sense based on their roster. At least, it gives a clearer indication of Kuzma’s position likely being at the 4. LeBron, Bradley, Green, Kuzma, Davis or LeBron, Green, KCP, Kuzma, Davis?
What about a LBJ, Green, Kuzma, AD & DMC… That would be an awesome super big line up with great shooting in all 5 positions.
From what I have heard Bradley will come off the bench the reason LeBron is going to the point is because they want all on the same floor Cosme, AD and cousins. Three of the best rebounders in the business which will take less pressure on their defense because they will get second and third chances under the rim.
I think rondo and kuz off the bench.
Good pickup…. nice versatile player….
Picking up Avery Bradley is a solid response to the Clippers’ acquisition of Patrick Beverley. This “Battle for LA” keeps getting better and better.
Your right. I’m just glad the lakers are in a battle of some sort. KL prolly lookin like bro, foreal? Lakers got the right players.
I think Rob was smart. These guys will bring a lot draft pics if he sells at the deadline.