After only playing nine games in his rookie season, Tony Bradley will be looking to expand his role on the team this season, but is he really ready to contribute?
Last off-season, the Utah Jazz made two draft night trades. We all know about the first one where they were able to turn Trey Lyles and the number 24 pick into now star Donovan Mitchell.
Many have forgotten about the second trade though, where Dennis Lindsey swapped the 30th pick (Josh Hart) and the 42nd pick (Thomas Bryant), for the rights to select Tony Bradley with the 28th pick.
Donovan Mitchell and Tony Bradley tonight, @utahjazz ?? pic.twitter.com/wT2pr7DhJg
— Steve Bartle (@SBartle247) June 23, 2017
As Jazz fans, we have come to expect the unexpected from Dennis Lindsey during the NBA draft. At the time though, the Tony Bradley deal was perhaps the most perplexing. Most mock drafts at the time had Bradley going in the early parts of the second round, so it may not have been necessary for them to move up in order to select him. I mean, they already had the 30th pick. Did they not think he was going to last two more picks?
The fact that they made that trade speaks volumes to how the Jazz organization viewed the big man out of North Carolina.
Bradley was a mystery coming out of college since he only played a limited role off the bench for the Tar Heels. After averaging just 7.1 points in 14.6 minutes per game, he was being drafted largely off of his measurables and his performance during team workouts.
There's a lot to like about Tony Bradley. Stats models love him. I think he's much better than people realize. A lot to like about him.
— Mark (@MarkW_E01) June 23, 2017
So what have we learned about Tony Bradley since being drafted last season, and what can he bring to the team this year?
Well, during the regular season he didn’t have much of a chance to play for this Jazz team. Only appearing in nine games, and all in blowouts, we learn the most about him when looking at his numbers from the G-League (still sounds weird).
Bradley played about 30 minutes a game for the Salt Lake City Stars, and appeared in 24 contests for the team. Bradley averaged 15.4 points and 10 rebounds per game. In so doing, he showcased an impressive scoring ability and showed off that 7’5″ wingspan as he dominated the boards.
He shot 59 percent from inside the three point line, and shot 81.4 percent from the free throw line. His shooting from the free throw line is especially impressive, because it’s a good indicator that he may be able to extend his shooting range.
There were still some definite concerns, though. For example, he led the team in fouls per game, with 3.5. This is something that should improve over time, but he is still learning the game, and in the NBA he could struggle to stay on the floor due to foul trouble.
On the flip side of that, he only averaged 2.5 free throw attempts per game. Bradley is not that athletic, so he struggles to create space and contact in the post. He actually reminds me of Al Jefferson in that way. Even at his peak, Big Al rarely averaged more than three free throws per game.
That lack of explosion was seen on the defensive side of the ball, as Bradley was only able to average 1.3 blocks per game, a surprisingly low number for a big with a 7’5″ wingspan.
During the Summer League, Bradley showed good flashes of growth that should excite Jazz fans. He played an all-around game on offense and defense in Utah, averaging nearly 15 points per game, while adding an impressive 12.3 rebounds and two blocks per game. He was noticeably bigger and stronger than he was as a rookie last season (literally bigger), and his hands were much better around the basket.
Utah Jazz center Tony Bradley has allegedly grew this offseason from 6-10 to 6-11.5 and his wingspan has stretched from 7-5 to 7-6, according to a source. The 20-year-old ended with 16 points and 6 boards today vs. Portland in the #SummerLeague.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) July 7, 2018
He struggled at times around the basket, and he will need to continue to get stronger and expand his offensive game. On defense, he needs to learn to use his long wingspan to affect more around the basket. Even if he never leads the league in blocks, he needs to be able to alter shots more at the rim.
Heading into this next season, I think you will see Bradley more frequently with this Utah Jazz team, but it still may not result in much more playing time. If the Jazz were truly ready to give him rotation minutes, there would have been little need to bring back Ekpe Udoh. Barring an injury to Gobert or Favors, he should expect to split his time with the Jazz and the Stars.
That said, what Bradley was able to show as a rookie and in the Summer League was very promising, and we can likely expect an increased role for the big man in the 2019-20 season.