Boston Celtics shutting down trade inquiries for ‘valued member’: Report

There’s been plenty of smoke surrounding the Boston Celtics so far this summer. The futures of both Malcolm Brogdon and Jaylen Brown have begun to feel a bit cloudy, with Brogdon’s name being floated in trade rumors, and Brown’s contract extension left unfinished.

In Brogdon’s case, his importance to the team has recently become a bit more clear. According to a report from Heavy Sports’ Steve Bulpett, Boston’s front office has been shutting down rival teams calling about a potential deal for the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Bulpett spoke to one of his league sources and learned that the conversations have been very short on the Brogdon trade front.

“We asked about him and we were told he’s a valued member of their team,” the source told Bulpett, who asked if there was anything else to that. “They said he’s a valued member of their team, and that’s where it ended,” he told Heavy Sports. “I don’t know if that changes down the line, but we didn’t get anywhere. And I’m pretty sure we aren’t the only team that got that response.”

What does the Boston Celtics’ desire to keep Malcolm Brogdon mean for the future?

Well — at the very least — it means they’re giving a (well-deserved) cold shoulder to the Los Angeles Clippers, who tried to trade for Brogdon last month.

“Los Angeles had been active before February’s trade deadline, and again during the early stretch of the offseason, searching for upgrades at the Clippers’ lead guard position,” wrote Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fisher. “The team nearly traded for Celtics ball-handler Malcolm Brogdon before June’s NBA Draft.”

Hopefully, this decision brings great success to the Boston Celtics this season, as they try and avenge their disastrous finish to the 2022-23 campaign. Brogdon played a key role to the team throughout the regular season, averaging 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game off of Boston’s bench.

Brogdon’s year ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, as he tore a tendon in his right forearm, rendering him ineffective against the Miami Heat.

If he’s able to carry over the strong showing he put together last year, then the Celtics may feel the absence of Marcus Smart a bit less. Boston’s point guard rotation was the deepest in the NBA last season. They had the luxury of rolling out three starting-caliber players Brogdon, Smart, and Derrick White.

The former Rookie of the Year will probably see an increased workload in the upcoming push for Banner 18, as the backcourt feels a bit thinner.

At the very least, Boston’s interest in keeping Brogdon for another season could indicate that Payton Pritchard’s role with the team will continue to be on the small side. Pritchard was reportedly unhappy about his lack of playing time last year and was hoping to be traded away this summer. After it was Smart who was traded, Pritchard’s future in Boston seemed a bit more stable with some extra minutes up for grabs.