Evaluating Jaden Bradley’s Professional Potential
The advantage that Bradley has working for him is his NBA-ready skill set. He will likely be fighting for minutes coming off the bench to start off, but his point-of-attack defense could become a commodity a team could utilize. NBA coaches desire good perimeter defenders, especially ones who can come in with the second unit. His 1.8 steals per game while at Arizona were mostly generated from him disrupting plays, jumping passing lanes and having active hands. He should develop into an All NBA Defensive-caliber player if he can stay out of foul trouble while maintaining defensive aggression, and if he is able to guard small forwards while switching.
Although his defensive habits are already established, Bradley has proven his understanding of running an offense. He has shown that he can recognize complex defensive coverage, and knows when to attack versus when to facilitate. He excels at getting teammates involved, and knows how to control tempo. If he ever wants to become a starter, he must improve his shooting efficiency, at least to an extent. Bradley is so good at getting to the basket, he never had to rely on a consistent shot, and he will have to add to his offensive repertoire, because the NBA is different than college.
A lot of general managers value analytic data and eFG% (expected effective field goal percentage), and the way NBA defenses are designed could benefit his playing style. While playing at Arizona, defenses were able to pack the paint and limit his spacing. In the NBA, there will be better floor spacing and wider lanes, giving him more room to operate. Defenders often get burned for leaving shooters to come help out on facilitators, and with Bradley’s court vision, that alone could solidify him as an everyday role player.
Since he is able to penetrate the lane, Bradley could start by developing a nice floater or midrange jump shot inside the perimeter. While he will eventually be counted on to knock down the eventual three-point shot, being able to pick his spots will help him develop in that area.
