Boston Celtics
Danny Ainge’s Celtics Connections Lead to Jazz Front Office Hire
12-year NBA veteran Avery Bradley is joining the Utah Jazz as vice president of player development, per Sarah Todd of the Deseret News.
Bradley now reunites with Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
Bradley played for Ainge’s Boston Celtics while the latter was their president of basketball operations. Selected by the Celtics with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, he spent his first seven seasons in Boston.
Danny Ainge’s Celtics Connections Lead to Jazz Front Office Hire
A defensive standout, Bradley has had extensive conversations with rookie Keyonte George —the 16th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft —“as the season progressed,” per Todd.
Over the course of the season, George has made tremendous strides as an on-ball defender. Part of this is undoubtedly due to Jazz head coach Will Hardy’s player development program and George’s natural inclination to study film. Nonetheless, tutelage from a two-time All-Defensive selection couldn’t have hurt.
Former Jazz star Donovan Mitchell may have the best anecdote about Bradley’s defensive acumen.
Speaking to former NBA guard Jeff Teague last month on the Club 520 Podcast, Mitchell says:
“We were playing in Detroit, and there’s probably film of this, too. I was the point guard at the time. I don’t know how to play [the point]. My ball handle ain’t really like that. I had to stop bringing the ball up the court because he was on the floor. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like that with anybody else in the league. So, I got to give it to Avery.”
According to Todd, Bradley “has been seen on the sidelines prior to Jazz games and has been hanging around the team in an unofficial role” since mid-December.
“More recently,” Todd adds, “Bradley has been even more visible with the team, as he’s traveled to away games and been seen giving advice to some of the younger guys.”
Learning the Ropes
Earlier this season, Hardy spoke about Bradley, saying that the 33-year-old “is somebody that I’ve developed a relationship with…”
At the time, it seemed as if Bradley was dipping his toes in the water. “He’s somebody that wanted to come spend some time and see what we’ve got going on,” Hardy says.
“It’s good to have him in the gym hanging out with the guys and hanging out with the coaching staff. He’s auditing this class. … He’s auditing this side of the world, not being a player.”
Bradley last played in the 2021-22 season, appearing in 62 games with the Los Angeles Lakers.
With that being said, Bradley has played beside several Hall of Fame players. In Boston, Bradley learned the ropes from Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. With the Lakers, Bradley was able to pick LeBron James’ brain.
Bringing that knowledge and experience to the Jazz, particularly their young players, could prove invaluable.
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