The Celtics' Avery Bradley is likely to undergo season-ending surgery on his injured shoulder, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston. Bradley's left shoulder has repeatedly dislocated this season, forcing trainers to pop it back in on the fly in order for the guard to return to action. This occurred during Game 4 of Boston's series against the Philadelphia 76ers, with Bradley returning to the court and playing through pain. But the youngster from Texas, who's provided a boost in Doc Rivers's lineup, sat out the past two games still ailing from the dislocation in Game 4. Now, according to Forsberg, he will not return for the decisive Game 7 or the rest of the Playoffs should the Celtics advance:
With surgery unavoidable in order to correct the issues, Bradley is expected to go under the knife as soon as the team determines he's able. According to the source, Bradley is looking at a four-month recovery process, but the hope is that he'll be ready in time for the team's October training camp.
While the team has still not officially ruled out a return, the dislocation in Game 4 was reportedly the final straw as team doctors determined that the risk for a more serious injury was too high should he play again.
Bradley became a solid contributor for the Celtics down the stretch, filling in for the injured Ray Allen and standing out on the defensive end. He was particularly valuable against the Sixers' guard-heavy attack, but it looks like the Celtics will have go again without him.
For more on Bradley's injury and the Celtics series against the Sixers, check out Celtics Blog or stop by SB Nation Boston.