Celtics trade Bradley to Pistons for Morris

In order to help clear space for the incoming $128-million contract of All-Star Gordon Hayward, the Boston Celtics are moving their longest-tenured player.

The Celtics traded Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for big man Marcus Morris, the team announced.

Detroit will also receive a 2019 second-round pick.

Both the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers reportedly made a strong push to acquire Bradley in the 24 hours leading up to this trade.

The Celtics have $30.8 million in cap room after moving Bradley, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, and can now take on Hayward's $29.7-million salary.

Bradley will hit unrestricted free agency next summer on an expiring contract of $8.8 million. Morris, on the other hand, has an extra year on his deal, earning just over $10.3 million for the next two seasons.

Selected 19th overall by the Celtics in the 2010 draft, Bradley, 26, has established himself over the past seven years as one of the Association's most respected perimeter defenders, with several of his peers upset over the fact that he was snubbed from the All-Defensive teams in 2016-17.

The move leads questions over what the future holds for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Motor City. He's a restricted free agent and could still receive close to a max offer, thus forcing the cap-strapped Pistons to make an important decision. Now $16.8 million below the hard cap, Detroit would need to shed salary to match any offer sheet worth more than $16.5 million for KCP, per Marks.

Morris averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds, and two assists on 41.8 percent shooting last season for Detroit, and could end up being slotted into Brad Stevens' frontcourt next to Hayward and Al Horford.