B/R puts serious expectations on new Boston Celtics point guard

The Boston Celtics kicked off the 2022 offseason with quite the bang. Before free agency even started, they were active — bringing in former 2016-17 Rookie of the Year Malcom Brogdon in a multi-player trade.

Boston practically gave up next to nothing for the veteran guard, sending out Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis and then a bunch of guys who weren’t cracking the rotation. The draft pick should end up late in the first-round in next year’s draft.

Brogdon adds depth for a Boston Celtics team that really lacked it late in the NBA Playoffs, more specifically the NBA Finals. On a recent list from Bleacher Report, Brogdon was mentioned as the team’s best new weapon.

B/R’s Andy Bailey broke it down like this:

"Danilo Gallinari’s meniscus tear is objectively a bummer for Boston, but at least he wasn’t the club’s most critical addition this summer. That distinction instead lands with Malcolm Brogdon, who could prove to be the Shamrocks’ missing piece so long as he stays healthy.So far, the 29-year-old has had trouble doing just that. His 36 games in 2021-22 were a career low, but he hasn’t cleared 60 games since 2018-19 and only topped 65 games in 2016-17, his rookie season. That’s perhaps why Boston landed him relatively cheaply, essentially sacrificing only a protected first-round pick and Daniel Theis.If the Shamrocks can keep Brogdon upright, he should shine. While he lacks a standout skill, he grades out as above-average to very good in many areas, which should allow him to shapeshift and fill any voids that arise around star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Brogdon’s versatility reaches both ends too, so he’ll be an effortless addition to head coach Ime Udoka’s defensive system."

The main concern is that injuries could slow down Brogdon. However, should he stay healthy he’ll be able to make a massive impact on the parquet floor. On top of that, he’ll make things easier on returning guards Marcus Smart and Derrick White. If either of them need to miss time there won’t be as much of a lapse as there would’ve been last season.

Brogdon will be able to take pressure off of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as he should provide a decent scoring punch off the bench. His skillset is complimentary to Smart’s offensively, and defensively he doesn’t represent a major drop-off from the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

Ultimately, Brogdon was acquired to get the Boston Celtics over the hump. They’ve proven good enough to represent the east in the NBA Finals, but with a strengthened Eastern Conference, Brogdon has ensured the Cs are equipped to handle the increased demand on their roster to fend the four or five contenders posing a threat to their conference supremacy.