BOSTON – The Boston Celtics made their first major move of the offseason Friday
as they traded Avery Bradley and a future second-round draft pick to the Detroit
Pistons in exchange for Marcus Morris.
The departure of Bradley, a two-way stud and fan-favorite in Boston, may be a
tough pill to swallow at first, but the Celtics are getting back an experienced,
gritty leader who should fit well into the Celtics’ small-ball system, while
also filling a frontcourt void.
Morris is a six-year veteran who has put up career averages of 10.8 points and
4.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. During
his first four seasons, he served as a role player for Houston and Phoenix, but
his playing time and production began to spike two years ago when he signed with
the Pistons.
The 27-year-old was a full-time starter over the last two seasons in Detroit,
where he averaged 14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, all while
playing 32.5 minutes per contest. His contributions, however, went well beyond
his statistical production.
Morris could be described as the motor of the Motor City basketball squad. He’s
as tough as nails, he’s physical and he can defend any position. He’s also
incredibly durable, having missed just six total games over the last four
seasons.
Moreover, Morris’ style of play should allow him to thrive in Boston, while
mutually benefiting his teammates. He’s a strong 3-point shooter and has a
deadly mid-range game. This means he should fit seamlessly into the Celtics’
pace-and-space offense.
Morris, much like Jae Crowder, is able to play the 3 and the 4 interchangeably.
Boston’s starting frontcourt could potentially consist of Crowder at the 3,
Morris at the 4 and Al Horford at the 5. Those players combined to average 5.0
3-point makes per game last season, which is a strong number for a frontcourt
threesome. Morris’ presence in the starting rotation would allow Boston to have
five 3-point threats on the court at once, which could create a small-ball
nightmare for opposing defenses.
Speaking of defense, that’s also a asset that Morris possesses. He is a strong,
fearless player who can bang bodies with bigs in the post, and he can also
switch out to the perimeter and defend guards. Crowder and Horford are also
versatile defenders, meaning the trio should be able to continuously switch like
a well-oiled machine.
While the addition of Morris should strengthen Boston’s frontcourt, the
subtraction of Bradley will bring a void that its backcourt will need to fill.
Bradley’s defense was critical to the Celtics’ success over the last seven
seasons, and his presence will surely be missed. Fortunately, Boston has a pair
of young, tenacious defenders in Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier who should be of
aid on that end, while Morris provides a much-needed strong, versatile boost up
front.
Player: Avery Bradley
Media Content:
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y-celtics-frontcourt
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
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Taxonomy: Trade, Marcus Morris, offseason, Summer
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