Just over a month ago, news broke that the Boston Celtics were trading reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon to the Los Angeles Clippers. Hours later, news broke that the Clippers pulled out of the deal and that Brogdon would remain in Boston.
It’s tough to imagine what it’s like for a player to hear that they’re being traded, only to find out it’s not happening. But, one thing is for sure, it can’t be the greatest feeling.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla caught up with the media on Wednesday and discussed how the organization has gone about smoothing things over with No. 13.
“The organization has had a few conversations ,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I think anytime that you’re in a situation like that and you’re in a relationship, you just have to take small steps into it. There’s a healing process, there’s a listening process, and there’s a process towards — this is where we’re at and this is where we have to get to. So, we’ve had some conversations as an organization, but at the same time we understand the situation that it was and as the healing process goes on we’ll continue to move just forward as well as we can.”
The Boston Celtics need Malcolm Brogdon this season more than ever
Instead of dealing Brogdon, the Boston Celtics sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies on the same day. Boston ultimately netted Kristaps Porzingis and some draft capital in the deal.
With the loss of Smart, the Celtics are much thinner at guard than they were last season, when they had a borderline surplus of effective guards. Now Brogdon stands alongside Derrick White — with Payton Pritchard looming in the background — as the team’s most important guards.
Boston can’t afford to have burned their bridges with the former Rookie of the Year. As the roster stands, he’s set to play a crucial role on a team with title aspirations. In order for the Celtics to be at their best, Brodgon has to be engaged and ready to compete. If he’s bitter about nearly being traded — the Celtics can’t blame him — but they’re certainly going to feel the results.
Brogdon’s 14.9 points per game on 48.4% from the field and 44.4% from deep provided the Cs with a huge advantage off of the bench. When his numbers dipped in the playoffs, before he was eventually injured, the team’s play suffered. The eye test would tell anyone that the Celtics weren’t themselves and that Brogdon’s slump had an affect on the team’s play.
For more on Malcolm Brogdon’s relationship with the Boston Celtics, check out a recent episode of the How ‘Bout Them Celtics podcast, where CelticsBlog’s Jack Simone and I discuss the news.