Boston Celtics extend qualifying offer to Avery Bradley
By Sam Richmond
The Boston Celtics have extended a $3.58 million qualifying offer to shooting guard Avery Bradley, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. The Celtics now have the opportunity to match any free agent offer sent Bradley’s way in July.
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It was surely an easy decision for Boston to make. The 23-year-old Bradley proved himself to be one of the Celtics’ better players this past season, averaging 14.9 points and shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. He is also known as one of the better up-and-coming on-ball defenders in the league.
Although the Celtics drafted someone that plays the same position as Bradley in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft in James Young, one would figure Boston plans to match any offer to Bradley, given his youth.
Additionally, Bradley has stated in the past that he wants to return to Boston next season. From A. Sherrod Blakely of Comcast SportsNet in May:
"And while no one knows how the Celtics and their rebuilding efforts will play out, Bradley reiterated to CSNNE.com that he wants to be part of it.“Of course this is where I want to be,” Bradley told CSNNE.com in a phone interview on Thursday. “I’ve been in Boston for four years and I love it; I love the fans, the front office. I definitely want to be back.”"
The Celtics drafted Bradley with the 19th pick in the first round of the 2010 draft. He has averaged 9.2 points for his career and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team in 2013.