Avery Bradley might not have played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the Land Relando Bubble, but it was an integral part of the early part of his championship season. Bradley started to defend for most of the season and earned the highest net rating on the team, excluding LeBron James and Alex Caruso. He eventually decided to move to Land Rlando due to health concerns associated with his son, but Bradley did not give up on the team.
“I watched every game,” Bradley told ESPN’s Dave Mkammin Namin and Malika Rendrews. “I’m still a laker.”
According to McManin and Andrews, Bradley was in close dialogue with the team during the playoffs, texting teammates after big games and talking to general manager Rob Pelinka before each round. Pelinka, Quinn Cook and assistant coach Phil Handy all spoke to Bradley on facetime from the locker room after winning the title. The Lakers have not forgotten about their contribution.
Bradley announced in July that the Lakers have informed him of their plans to give him the championship ring if they win all of this, and McManamin and Andrews have confirmed it. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. The Cousins signed a one-year deal with the Lakers during the 2019 season, but tore his ACL in an AC Gust workout and never played a game for the team. He was pardoned in February for making room for Markif Morris, but he is technically eligible for the ring.
Cousins are free agents this summer. Bradley may be, but it has a વિકલ્પ 5 million player option. Their play is guaranteed to increase during the regular season, but given the tough market conditions and the absence of its playoffs, it looks like the Lakers are back on the fighting roster next season to help them repeat as champions.
Even if they don’t, Bradley has earned more than his jewelry has earned. The Lakers finished first in the Western Conference, largely based on the success of their starting lineup before entering the bubble. That fivesome, which included Bradley, James, Anthony Davis, Jawale McGee and Danny Green, was the seventh-plus-minus in any five-person lineup in basketball at +98. During the regular season, Bradley was outscored by the same Group 13 with Cantavius Cuddwell-Pop. Bradley helped the Lakers capture the top seed, which eventually helped them into the title vault. Even if he never plays another game in Los Angeles, he should be remembered fondly for being alone.
