Boston Celtics: Can Malcolm Brogdon get the C’s over the hump?
Will Malcolm Brogdon prove to be the final piece for the Boston Celtics?
This year’s free agency has been insane, but one team added a piece hoping to return to the NBA Finals, and with this player, they can. The Boston Celtics traded for Malcolm Brogdon, the former starting point guard for the Indiana Pacers, in a very lopsided trade.
Question is, is Brogdon the right fit to take them to the next level?
The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers trade:
- Celtics receive: Malcolm Brogdon
- Pacers receive: Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Juwan Morgan, Malik Fitts, Nik Stauskas and a 2023 first-round pick
The Celtics were geniuses with this trade. If there was anything the Celtics needed heading into this season, it was a true point guard. The evidence was quite visible that Brogdon would be available for trade as soon as Indiana acquired Tyrese Haliburton at the NBA Trade Deadline.
Though, I’m not sure anyone expected the Celtics to jump up and snag him.
Brogdon has been one of the league’s most fascinating and underrated players. He has all the tools of a “true point guard.” Brogdon’s statistics have improved each and every year since his 2017 rookie campaign, where he earned the Rookie of the Year award. Last year he averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Last season, Brogdon suffered Achilles and hamstring injuries and missed a massive chunk of the season. And that’s the biggest possible concern with this acquisition. Yes, Brogdon can be labeled as injury-prone, but when healthy, Brogdon is an incredible asset to any team. But how will he impact the Celtics?
Brogdon will only give the Celtics more versatility, as he can thrive in a starting role or off the bench. Brogdon’s high basketball IQ will allow the Celtics to generate plays that the Celtics could not perform last season. He can slow down a game on offense, enabling others to get open, and if they are covered, he does not hesitate to shoot. His defense is very underappreciated as he can guard some of the best guards in the league.
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The Celtics should have little to no issue going deep into the playoffs, with Bogdon as one of the primary decision-makers allowing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to feast offensively.