Celtics expected to move Jae Crowder following Avery Bradley trade

Wojnarowski reported that the goal of the trade is to clear salary cap space the Celtics need to sign free agent Gordon Hayward.

However, the Celtics needed to make the move to clear up cap space for newly signed Gordon Hayward and get some frontcourt help after the departure of Kelly Olynyk to the Miami Heat.

Caldwell-Pope was a restricted free agent who might command a max deal of around $24 million a season.

While 6.5 rebounds in only 17.5 minutes is impressive enough, Dedmon’s per 36 averages were 10.5 points and 13.6 rebounds, with 9.9 of those rebounds being on the defensive glass. He missed time with a myriad of injuries, including a hamstring, an achilles and a shoulder. Every player on their team, from point guard Reggie Jackson to center Andre Drummond, is flawed in some way, and yet the team couldn’t have realistically brought in anyone better than this current lineup. The Celtics will likely pay Morris and Smart less in 2018-19 than they would have paid Bradley all by himself. Morris should end up starting for Boston next to Al Horford, though the calculus could change if the team elects to keep Jae Crowder.

Celtics fans knew a deal was coming this week to coincide with the signing of Gordon Hayward. However, the Celtics created a bit of breathing room to fit in Hayward and other young pieces of the roster. In that sense, Bradley is a high-end version of the free agent the Pistons added, Langston Galloway, another guard capable of defending either backcourt spot, making plays off the dribble and shooting above the league average from the 3-point line.

Landing Gordon Hayward was always going to come with a sacrifice for the Boston Celtics and that outcome manifested in trading away Avery Bradley. Rather than play the waiting game or negotiating game, the Pistons went out and got a substantial upgrade at a much-lower price, then renounced their rights to Caldwell-Pope.

Swapping Bradley for a power forward doesn’t address the Celtics’ biggest weakness-if anything it makes it worse.

The Detroit Pistons made their first big splash of the offseason Friday morning in a trade with the Boston Celtics.

ESPN reports that the Pistons also receive a second round pick in the trade.

For a start, they lose their best perimeter defender who did such a good job at taking pressure off Isaiah Thomas on defense. He shot 39.9% from the field with 2 threes a game while his -1.4 nERD is identical to that of Bradley.