According to Gary Washburn, guard Malcolm Brogdon may be “angry” with the Boston Celtics. Washburn also said that Brogdon was unhappy the last time he spoke to the team back in July. Since then, Brogdon has reportedly remained silent and has not communicated with the team.
According to Gary Washburn, Boston Celtics 6MOTY Malcolm Brogdon was angry with the team after trade rumors during this past offseason.
“He was not happy in July," Washburn said. "Is he the same level of unhappiness in September? We don't know. He hasn't talked all summer. …… pic.twitter.com/ECq083XABn
— Celtics Lead (@CelticsLead) September 18, 2023
This news comes a few months after the Celtics nearly traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the original trade that landed the team Kristaps Porzingis.
The original three-team trade fell through because of Brogdon’s injury that kept him limited during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.
Instead of Brogdon, the Celtics eventually shipped out Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a separate three-team trade to acquire Porzingis.
With the season roughly one month away, it will be interesting to see if the Celtics can repair their relationship with the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.
Malcolm Brogdon Reportedly Unhappy With the Boston Celtics
The Celtics acquired Brogdon during the 2022 offseason to bolster their backcourt and add a solidifed playmaker.
In his first year with the Celtics, Brogdon averaged 14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG. Additionally, Brogdon shot 48.4% from the field, including 44.4 3pt% (the fourth-highest in the league).
Brogdon’s highest scoring game of the season came against the Charlotte Hornets on January 14.
In a 122-106 win, Brogdon scored 30 points while shooting 64.7% off the bench. Brogdon also recorded three rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Why Did the Celtics Nearly Trade Brogdon?
When the Celtics acquired Brogdon, it was likely they expected the combo guard to be their immediate backup guard behind Smart and Jaylen Brown.
This was until Derrick White broke out last season and had a career year.
White was acquired by the team in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2021-22 season.
Despite White showing flashes of excellence, his inconsistency was a big problem. It was difficult for the team to depend on him to show up and perform every game.
This is where the idea of acquiring Brogdon was appealing.
Even if he didn’t outright replace White in the rotation, the idea of both of them on the second unit was promising. The two complemented each other very well, and they could play with the starters from time to time if needed.
White’s coming out season was a bit of a shocker, though. He continued to improve, and his role continued to grow as a result. Playing in all 82 games, White started 70 of them and made it to the All-Defensive Second Team.
Although it is never necessarily a bad thing to have too much talent, it created a logjam in the backcourt. Next to Brogdon, White, and Smart was also 2020 first-rounder Payton Pritchard.
Pritchard has had a limited role during his tenure with the Celtics, but he has shown that he can be a consistent contributor when given the opportunity.
Combine all of this with Brogdon’s injury history and expensive contract, and it makes sense that he was the odd man out.
What’s Next for Both Sides?
At this point, it’s tough to say what is going to happen with Brogdon.
Back in July, reports came out saying that the Celtics had told teams that Brogdon was not on the table in trade talks.
A month later, Joe Mazzulla acknowledged that there is a “healing process” with the team’s and Brogdon’s relationship.
Assuming these reports of Brogdon being unhappy are true and nothing gets solved, the former Rookie of the Year may request a trade or potentially hold out.
However, there is still a chance both sides can work things out internally.
The Celtics already lost one major piece in the backcourt this offseason in Smart. It’s highly unlikely they want to lose another one.
