After a disappointing finish to the season, the Boston Celtics are looking to retool this offseason. While one potential way to shake up the roster would be to trade All-NBA Second Team member Jaylen Brown, a much easier trade to make would be trading away Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.
Brogdon was acquired last offseason and is set to make $22.5 million this coming season. While on paper it might seem like a bad idea to trade Brogdon after one good season with the team, Brogdon has a heavy injury history and hasn’t consistently shot as well from three as he did this past season.
Essentially, now would be a great time to sell high on the 30-year-old combo guard, especially if Brad Stevens feels a roster shuffle is necessary. Regarding a Malcolm Brogdon trade, there are multiple trade types the Celtics can pursue.
Boston Celtics’ too-little trade package
While the Boston Celtics should theoretically sell high, it’s also possible Brogdon’s value around the league isn’t as high as you’d expect from last year’s 6MOY winner. If the Celtics feel it is necessary to swap a wing for a guard and free up playing time for Payton Pritchard, then a trade like this may make some sense.
On paper, it’s not a bad trade. The Celtics would be trading Brogdon for a good 3-and-D wing in Finney-Smith and also getting back Patty Mills, a good veteran presence and shooter off the bench.
However, the Celtics can get more for Brogdon than this, especially if they package him with other pieces and/or picks. DFS is under contract for one extra year and is worth less money than Brogdon, making the 30-year-old potentially a better asset to have down the line.
However, if the Celtics are trying to improve the team and make another run at a title next season, this trade doesn’t achieve a whole lot. Rather than improving the roster, it just makes the roster different. Combine that with DFS’s 3-point shot declining last season, and I don’t see the Celtics agreeing to this trade after some consideration.
For the Nets, they are already wing-heavy, especially if they resign Cam Johnson, so trading for Brogdon and improving their ball-handling and playmaking would be helpful to help balance the roster. From a value standpoint, they win the trade.
This seems like a trade package the Nets could approach the C’s with, but would likely be trumped by offers from other teams.
Rotations After Trade
Celtics
PG: White, Smart
SG: Brown, Pritchard
SF: Tatum, DFS
PF: Grant, Gallo
C: Rob, Horford
Nets
PG: Dinwiddie, Curry
SG: Brogdon, Harris
SF: Bridges, Thomas
PF: Johnson, O’Neale
C: Claxton, Simmons
Boston Celtics’ too-much trade package
If the Boston Celtics wanted to get a good third option, they could use Brogdon and other pieces/picks to get there. This trade package would make a lot of sense for the Celtics and could be something the Wizards look into if they want to rebuild.
The Wizards would probably ask for a pick or two with this package as well, or maybe Payton Pritchard instead of Muscala, but either way, I doubt the Wizards would do this type of trade package for Porzingis without better young players involved.
From a Celtics standpoint, Porzingis would be a perfect fit, especially if the Celtics want to pivot to less switching on defense. Porzingis is a Brook Lopez-type player, a stretch big with a solid inside game and shot-blocking skills. He can play power forward alongside Rob Williams or as the lone big man.
Adding Porzingis through this type of trade would likely hurt the Celtics’ depth, but it would greatly improve the big-man rotation making it well worth it.
From the Wizards’ perspective, adding at least one first-rounder would be a must with this type of package, but they would probably want better and more young players besides a sign-and-trade for Grant Williams. To top that off, the C’s will be good for years to come if they keep their core around, so any pick they send to the Wizards would likely be a late one and not have a ton of value.
This is a trade package the Celtics would approach the Wizards with, but I doubt it would get done due to the lack of valuable assets the Celtics have that they would be willing to part with for Porzingis.
Rotations After Trade
Celtics
PG: White, Smart
SG: Brown, Pritchard
SF: Tatum, Hauser
PF: Porzingis, Gallo
C: Rob, Horford
Wizards
PG: Brogdon, Morris
SG: Beal, Wright
SF: Avdija, Kispert
PF: Kuzma, Grant
C: Gafford, Muscala
Boston Celtics’ just-right trade package
This trade is an interesting trade for both the Boston Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies.
For the Celtics, they get the frontcourt and wing depth they desperately need. While Kennard isn’t a 3-and-D wing, he’s a fantastic three-point shooter who can do a bit of ball-handling and on-ball scoring as well. He’d make for a solid backup SG/SF for the C’s.
Steven Adams provides size, rebounding, and a veteran presence the Celtics could really use in the frontcourt, especially with Al Horford on the decline. He can also help alleviate Rob Williams, especially during the regular season.
For the Grizzlies, they could use more guard depth with the potential suspension of Ja Morant. Malcolm Brogdon is a great acquisition to keep them afloat while he’s held out and produce once Morant comes back.
Brogdon is a combo guard who can shoot, run the point, and play solid defense, making him a great fit as both a temporary Ja replacement and a potential starter next to Ja.
To replace the shooting and size they are losing in this trade, the Grizzlies get Danilo Gallinari in return as a veteran presence and solid bench option at the backup power-forward spot. Moving Adams also opens up spots for promising role players like Xavier Tillman and Brandon Clarke, two guys who can play as stretch fives.
Along with budding stud Jaren Jackson Jr. the Grizzlies could have four guys with size, versatility, and shooting in their frontcourt, perfect to surround a star like Ja who constantly attacks the basket.
This trade package feels like it makes sense for both teams. At the very least, if the value isn’t quite there, picks could be thrown in to make it work, whether that would mean second-rounders or heavily protected first-rounders.
Rotations After Trade
Celtics
PG: White, Smart
SG: Brown, Pritchard
SF: Tatum, Kennard
PF: Grant, Horford
C: Rob, Adams
Grizzlies
PG: Morant, Jones
SG: Brogdon, Konchar
SF: Bane, Williams
PF: JJJ, Gallo
C: Tillman, Clarke