Is Malcolm Brogdon a Distressed Asset?

    

    The former 6th man of the year is operantly disgruntled in the ending of the 2023 off season. Now there is definite reason for Malcolm Brogdon to feel this way. The team was exploring options to move Brogdon in the off season. Their big ticket target was to acquire Washington's Center Kristaps Porzingis a 7'3 center that can space the floor has a handle can dunk and block shots, a.. unicorn according to the New York Knicks fanbase. The trade in question was a 3 team deal that would send Brogdon to the Los Angeles Clippers (who were, and still are in need of a point guard) it would send Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey to the Wizards, Brogdon to the Clippers and Porzingis to the Celtics. The trade fell through so the Celtics had to pivot and they gave Marcus Smart a fan favorite to the Grizzlies in a different deal to get Porzingis to the Celtics. Obviously this infuriated the fans that it should have been Brogdon instead of Marcus Smart the darling of the mean green machine. 

    Naturally Brogdon would feel slighted for being shopped after having such a good season on a team that came so close to making the finals. Not only this now the fans are upset that Smart is gone instead of him its a lot in Brogdon's corner. What people forget is Brogdon was hurt during the playoffs and that definitely affected his offensive capability. The off season we got Brogdon I thought he was the missing piece the team needed. This is because year they lost the finals the entire fault that plagued the team was obscene amount of turnovers. A traditional point guard that would take care of the ball and not turn it over was exactly what I thought we needed. Brogdon still was not that, Brogdon, White, Brown and Smart were 4 scoring minded shooting guards. The team still lacks the quarter backing type guard that will play set up for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to carry the team to a championship. 

    It seems the main factor in the Malcolm Brogdon situation goes back to the Celtics and their team doctors. It needs to be noted, as a die hard Boston Celtics fan, the team doctors are sketchy and very much so at that. The Isaiah Thomas saga was one for the history books. Where the Celtics doctors cleared Isaiah Thomas to play on an injured hip and he was never the same again. He went from an MVP candidate at 5 foot 9 averaging 29 points a night on 46% shooting. The Celtics cleared him and kept him playing when he was clearly injured and he has been struggling to get back into the league. When if he did not turn to the team doctors, the king of the 4th was in line for a supermax contract if his injury was treated prior to getting worse.

    I can see why Brogdon would look at the Celtics team doctors with a critical lens it comes down to now where do we go from here? Malcolm Brogdon is one of the most professional players I have covered over the years and I can't see this affecting his production on the court. If it comes down to it and you need to move him there are moves out there to get the deal done. The big issue that comes with holding onto Malcolm Brogdon is that 2 year 45 million dollar cap hit. The team just signed Brown to a massive supermax extension they have Tatum's Supermax coming up and they just traded for Porzingis who will tie up the books as well.  

    The team is all in on winning the Championship this year and it is essential to only hold onto Brogdon if he gives you the very best opportunity to win it all. If you believe in Pritchard taking the step forward to play significant minutes for the team you can explore moving Brogdon for a Buddy Hield or another player to get the job done. Making the finals is not good enough for this roster they have to win the championship. The Boston Celtics first Pre Season game is on Sunday October 8th against the Philadelphia 76ers. The season kicks off on October 25th in Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks at 7pm!