The Boston Celtics get major depth wins in lopsided proposed trade

NBA Analysis Network came up with a three-team trade proposal involving the Boston Celtics that would be deemed a major win for its second unit — swapping out Malcolm Brogdon to the Suns along with a 2025 first-round pick from the Grizzlies, bringing back Tyus Jones and Steven Adams to Boston, and landing Deandre Ayton in Memphis.

The Celtics, in this scenario, would be getting back a direct replacement in Jones who is three years younger and played 80 games during the 2022-23 season for Memphis compared to 67 for Brogdon. The previous two seasons before that saw a combined 92 appearances.

Not only that, but Adams would be a perfect rotation big behind Al Horford and/or Robert Williams III. If the Celtics front office wanted to move on from the injury-prone Williams in order to rely on guys with more historical availability, Adams could slide into his backup role.

The Boston Celtics won’t get that much value for Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon’s forearm tendon tear that took the guard out of Game 5 could complicate his value, but regardless, the Boston Celtics weren’t going to get so much for a player on the wrong side of 30 with $45 million left on his deal. Not unless he returns and has an undeniably great Conference Finals/NBA Finals performance.

That is not to say Brogdon’s performance won’t age well. Given his game is not based on overwhelming athleticism like many of his peers, Brogdon’s floor-awareness and efficient shooting should be a valuable rotation player into his mid-30s.

The thing is, front offices aren’t overly zealous looking to acquire a player with the injury-prone label Brogdon currently sports. Should Boston do the unthinkable in the Eastern Conference Finals, he may well just be a long-term cog in the Cs machine.

And that is far from a bad thing considering his strong playoff performances in 2023, and the last several solid campaigns that preceded them.