NBA: Trade for Bradley fills hole in lineup for Pistons

DETROIT— One of the biggest questions facing the Detroit Pistons this off-season was what they would do with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. On Friday, they replaced him. The Pistons traded forward Marcus Morris to Boston in exchange for guard Avery Bradley and a secondround draft pick in 2019. Bradley’s arrival gives the Pistons a replacement for Caldwell-Pope, who had been a restricted free agent. Detroit has now renounced the rights to Caldwell-Pope.

Bradley averaged 16.3 points per game last season for the Celtics, but Boston is adding all-star forward Gordon Hayward and moving on from Bradley. Morris averaged 14 points for Detroit.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge released a statement thanking Bradley for his contributions.

“It’s no secret that Avery had been one of my favourite players,” Ainge said. “Avery did a lot of the dirty work and often didn’t get the recognition that he deserved, but our coaches, staff, his teammates, and our fans who watched him play every night appreciated what a special player and person he is.”

Bradley was the longest-tenured member of the Celtics, bridging the gap from the era of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen that won the 2008 NBA title.

Picked 19th overall in the 2010 draft, he developed into one of the league’s best defenders, making the AllDefensive second team in 2013 and first team in 2016.

Detroit, which missed the playoffs last year, can slot Bradley into the backcourt alongside point guard Reggie Jackson. Bradley, who turns 27 in November, is older than the 24-year-old Caldwell-Pope, but he’s also been a better shooter from 3-point range, finishing at 39 per cent last season.

The Pistons lose Morris, who has been a steady veteran and a mainstay in the starting lineup over the past two seasons.