Off-season surgery on both shoulders has helped Celtics guard Avery Bradley regain some of the range of motion he lost during the regular season.
But as far as whether he'll be ready in time for training camp? That remains to be seen.
"I don't know anything," Bradley told CSNNE.com in a phone interview. "They just want me to get healthy. That's all they really tell me. They don't really give me time frames."
While the exact time of his return is uncertain, the Celtics have certainly approached the offseason as though they will be without their best perimeter defender.
"We know there's a possibility that Avery won't be able to play the first month of the season," Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, told CSNNE.com. "So we have to be prepared for that. You never know how these things play out; will it be a month? Or two months? I don't think it'll be much longer than that, or he could be back sooner. You try to build a roster where you can get by with any injury, that can sustain you through a short period of time."
Even if Bradley was healthy to start the season, he would still face stiff competition for the starting job at shooting guard. The Celtics acquired Courtney Lee this offseason, who, like Bradley, is also considered a better-than-average defender.
But unlikely Bradley, Lee has a more polished offensive game which is evident when you consider he has averaged 10 points per game throughout his career, and shot better than 40 percent on threes in three of his four NBA seasons.
Boston Celtics
Still, Bradley has proven himself to be an impact player even if his offensive numbers might suggest otherwise.
However, his ability to impact the game in a manner he's accustomed to -- defensive pressure, corner 3-pointers -- was greatly limited by injuries to both shoulders. And while he managed to play most of the regular season in pain, it became too much for him in the postseason.
"It's tough," said Bradley, who missed the last three games of Boston's second-round series against Philadelphia and the entire Eastern Conference Finals. "You want to be there for your teammates, but you have to do what you have to do."
Indeed, the surgery was not only about getting him healthy again, but it was also a major step toward ensuring that the injury does not become a recurring one.
And as far as what he's able to do now, Bradley was mum on the specifics other than to say that, "I'm trying to take everyday and relax, allow my body to heal."
How long of a process will that take?
Nobody -- including Bradley -- has an answer.
What he does know is that in his absence, the Celtics have assembled a number of players who collectively will keep the Celtics among the top teams in the East.
In addition to Lee, Boston also signed sharpshooter Jason Terry and on Tuesday, they re-signed Keyon Dooling, who, like Bradley, is considered an above-average defender particularly when it comes to pressuring ball handlers.
"It's amazing. I think we have a great team, we have a great coach, a great organization," Bradley said. "They know what they're doing on how to build a great team. I think we'll be good, once we get together and get on the court."