The Celtics had high hopes for young guard Avery Bradley when they drafted him last summer No. 19 overall out of the University of Texas. But seven months later, those hopes have yet to pan out and it now appears that the C's are on the verge of making a change.
With Bradley buried on the Celtics' depth chart and rarely seeing minutes during his rookie season, the team has decided to send Bradley down to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.
"We're going to send Avery down pretty soon, so he can get some reps playing basketball," coach Doc Rivers said Thursday. "I just think he needs to play basketball. Sitting, especially in this stretch where we didn't practice at all, hasn't helped him."
Bradley has played in only 14 games this season, averaging 1.1 points in 4.7 minutes per contest. He's been behind Nate Robinson and Von Wafer in the guard pecking order all season, and the impending return of Delonte West will only further bury Bradley.
Rivers said that Bradley's move to the Celtics' minor league club could happen as early as Friday.
The Red Claws have been led this season by youngsters DeShawn Sims, Tiny Gallon and Mario West, all of whom made appearances with the Celtics during the preseason.
