Lakers guard Avery Bradley is voluntarily opting out of participating in the NBA restart, he tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Although Bradley has been among the players voicing concerns about the resumption of the season drawing attention away from the fight for social justice, Wojnarowski reports that family considerations – including the well-being of his three children – are a primary factor in Bradley’s decision.
According to Woj, Bradley’s six-year-old son has a history of struggling to recover from respiratory illnesses and likely wouldn’t be medically cleared to enter the Orlando bubble after the first round of the playoffs, when family members will be permitted to join players.
“As committed to my Lakers teammates and the organization as I am, I ultimately play basketball for my family,” Bradley told ESPN. “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.”
Bradley becomes the third player known to be opting out of the season’s resumption. However, Davis Bertans and Trevor Ariza – the other two players who have decided not to participate – are on teams currently outside of the playoff picture, while Bradley is a key rotation player for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed.
Bradley, 29, averaged 8.6 PPG and 2.3 RPG on .444/.364/.833 shooting in 49 games (24.2 MPG) this season, and was considered one of the Lakers’ top perimeter defenders. Now that he’s out of the mix for Orlando, the team may have to lean on guards like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, and Rajon Rondo to play increased roles.
The Lakers will also be eligible to sign a substitute player to replace Bradley, despite not having an open spot on their 15-man roster. Virtually any current free agent is eligible to be signed, as long as he didn’t play in a non-NBA professional league this season.
That substitute player won’t count against L.A.’s cap, though he can only be signed to a minimum-salary, rest-of-season contract and won’t have any form of Bird rights at season’s end, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
Bradley will forfeit a portion of his $4.77MM salary by sitting out the summer portion of the season — Wojnarowski estimates the decision will cost the veteran guard approximately $650K. Bradley has a player option for 2020/21 worth just over $5MM.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Guys who opt not to play, do they count as a roster spot taken up? Or can a team sign someone to fill that void
They can be replaced. I think signing period is 23rd to 30th.
He was pretty useless this season anyways. What a bum.
He’s only one of their best defenders (second only to AD), but aside from that he is a bum. That’s why he was starting alongside LBJ, Davis, Green, and McGee. This should force KCP into the starting lineup and really weakens their depth.
Pipe down. If its not AD or LeBron the Lakers will be fine.
Lakers are not as solid as you think. They better hope they can get some scoring off the bench and some defense.
They have two of the 5 best players in the sport. Once again pipe down. Gotta love these clowns who think role players mean more than elite talent.
He’s one of there better defenders..there defense fell apart when he was injured earlier in season.. he will be missed.
What a bum for thinking of his son?
$650,000 can buy a lot of care for his son and then some. Fathers can love their sons and still work. That’s what they do.
That’s definitely an opinion…..
Thats what most fathers do, he does not have to, he has that luxury being rich. Whether thats of any moral failing, im not to say.
i respect his choice and the team has a strong enough depth to hold on
He would have got full payment if he were a Knick
its fine，he has a good reason
I blame anyone who make excuses
He won’t be missed that much. Lebron can guard 1-5
He’s done!!!! What a kick in the face to his teammates.
I guarantee you his teammates support his decision. Basketball is a sport.
@ b-minus21…
How can you guarantee that? Are you a LAL player? Don’t think so…
This guy won’t be missed by the Lakers, ain’t good at all.
Also I don’t believe his excuse, he is Kyrie’s sidekick… that alone tells you all you have to know of the man, real glad he ain’t turning up for the Lakers, now they have even a greater chance to win without him.
Is your account satirical?
Bc this isn’t normal circumstances but any stretch of the imagination. This isn’t just a snap decision during a normal season. It’s a freaking global pandemic. You have no clue what his personal life is like and what struggles he’s been through with his son. Why do we just immediately assume the worst on people? What a depressing way to live. Moving on….
So far, every player that’s opted out has been considered “terrible” according to your estimations. How would the Lakers have a better chance of winning without their best perimeter defenders?
@wagner13ish…
As always you are wrong my friend! How does it feel? Must be tough, right? Didn’t say that about Ariza he is a good one, with a good reason… take that one to the bank!
You must be so proud of yourself. At least I don’t sit here judging NBA players and their personal decisions
He used family Health considerations so he can opt not to play and still get paid.. guarantee he’s traded in off season.. dion waiters just got some more playing time.. don’t know how these players will be able to go back to there team next season.. some will view that they quit on there team when they were needed most
I know it’s tough, but you should probably read the entire article before blasting the guy. He forfeits his salary, so you first take is off base. He has a player option for next season, unless you can see the future I don’t know how you can guarantee he gets traded. They will very easily go back to their teams because any normal person wouldn’t hold it against a man for taking care of his family over playing a game for two months. And if you are so obsessed with winning and sports that you do hold it against him, then you are probably just as willing to forgive him if it helps you win
There’s a medical exemption they can apply for and still get paid..players that can’t play due to medical exemption due to risk still get paid.. its in the cba that they approved.. none of this was an issue when he was on kyrie bandwagon and saying how the owners needed to do more .. now it’s his sons health.. also, he will accept that player option and guess what, he’ll be in a trade as a salary matching component..
So I guess all these reports about players forfeiting their salaries for opting out of the bubble are just more fake news. Meanwhile, absolutely zero mention of this “medical exemption” that guarantees them their salary. Like the owners would sign of on that. Get real
Take it to the Bank he’s traded. Lebron won’t put up with it. No matter what the it’s OK face he puts on it in public is.
Lakers: Dinwiddie
Nets: Bradley, Kuzma
This decision by Bradley probably has been anticipated, and preceded his connection with the Irving teleconference, whether by plan or just by speaking up so much during it. I mean he likely knew he would be passing on the camp when he spoke out against it.
I would not rule out some political motivation though.
Bradley down, soon Howard and Kuzma, possibly, basically for YOLO reasons, popular in LA. For health reasons McGee should probably not show, but he might anyway. There was talk of a medical panel that could ban people. If so McGee would be someone to look at.
Wants to help out? Donate the remainder of his salary to people that don’t have the luxury of opting-out of going into work during the pandemic.
It’s his right, as long as he ties it to his or his family’s heath. He could have other motivations, including financial. Few major decisions are made for a single reason. I don’t expect too many guys from contenders to opt out, but if it happens, the NBA has only itself and its feeble leadership to blame.