Boston Celtics: Malcolm Brogdon won’t start, ticketed for sixth man role

The vaunted double-big lineup that got the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals and within two games of Banner 18 isn’t going anywhere in the wake of several high-profile acquisitions made during the first day of free agency. Al Horford and Robert Williams will remain the imposing defensive frontline in the starting five, while Marcus Smart will remain the starting point guard after the team acquired Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers in a deal that also included the Cs parting with Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and a 2023 first-round pick.

Per Boston beat reporter Mark Murphy, Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Horford, and Robert Williams will remain the guys that hear their names echoing throughout the T.D. Garden (and elsewhere) during warm-ups. Brogdon, as Murphy points out, is viewed internally as the Celtics’ sixth man.

Considering Derrick White, Grant Williams, and now Danilo Gallinari, are all situated in the C’s second unit, that’s a pretty favorable view of the newcomer. The move could push Payton Pritchard back to the role he played when Dennis Schroder was still a Celtic — assuming Pritchard isn’t used as part of another deal this offseason himself.

The Boston Celtics could explore a trade for Malcolm Brogdon at the deadline if he isn’t a good fit

Being that the incoming Pacers point guard is on an expiring contract, the Malcolm Brogdon acquisition could turn into a rental if he doesn’t take to a bench role well in his first season with his third team. The Cs could consider dealing the freshly acquired floor general at the NBA trade deadline next February if things don’t work out with the union according to Michael Kaskey-Blomain of CBS Sports.

Brogdon has split his six-year career so far with the Milwaukee Bucks and with the Pacers. In his first season, Brogdon won the Rookie of the Year, and his numbers have skyrocketed with an increased role.

Boston is one of the few places where Brogdon’s role could have possibly gotten reduced, so in a way, the Pacers didn’t do him a ton of favors trading him to a squad that wasn’t going to tinker with its core pieces. In another sense, though, Indiana just gave him the opportunity to shine on the brightest stage considering the C’s contender status. Boston is the current title favorite because of his acquisition.