Report: Warriors will try to lure Avery Bradley from Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
One of the assets the Warriors have at their disposal in free agency is the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception.
Is it possible they use it on Avery Bradley?
Well, Golden State will pursue the combo guard, sources told Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes on Monday afternoon.
Yahoo Sources: Potential free agent Avery Bradley to be courted by Golden State, Milwaukee and several contenders in attempt to lure him away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 16, 2020
The No. 19 overall pick from the 2010 draft was described as a “potential free agent” because it’s unclear if he will exercise his 2020-21 player option.
Lakers guard Avery Bradley tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium he is changing representation and plans to sign with agent Charles Briscoe. He is evaluating whether to decline his $5M player option.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2020
If news surfaces in the coming days that Bradley will enter free agency, it’s all but certain he will get an offer from somebody above the $5 million he is scheduled to earn this season.
After the conclusion of the NBA draft Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly will finalize a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder that will send Dennis Schröder to the defending champions.
Perhaps that transaction has resulted in Bradley coming to the conclusion that leaving the Lakers is in his best interest.
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The soon-to-be 30-year-old (his birthday is Nov. 26) averaged 8.6 points over 49 games (44 starts) last year, while shooting over 36 percent from 3-point range. He opted not to play in the Orlando bubble when the season resumed in late July.
“As committed to my Lakers teammates and the organization as I am, I ultimately play basketball for my family,” Bradley told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “And so, at a time like this, I can’t imagine making any decision that might put my family’s health and well-being at even the slightest risk.
“As promised also, I will use this time away to focus on the formation of projects to help strengthen my communities.”
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Bradley is best known for being a fantastic defender, as he was named Second-Team All-Defense in 2013 and First-Team All-Defense in 2016.
If he signs with the Warriors, it is safe to assume he will come off the bench. But there definitely would be opportunities for him, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to be on the court at the same time.
Free agency officially opens Friday at 3:00 p.m. PT.
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