Right here’s what the Clippers reportedly nearly gave up for Malcolm Brogdon

Celtics

The Celtics nearly misplaced the reigning Sixth Man of the Yr in a commerce with the Clippers.

Earlier than the Boston Celtics despatched away fan-favorite Marcus Sensible within the commerce that netted them Kristaps Porzingis, they’d a totally completely different deal that may have despatched out Malcolm Brogdon as an alternative.

As reported in June by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards mentioned a commerce that may ship Porzingis to Boston, however it could require the Celtics to offer Brogdon to the Clippers. This commerce was reportedly very near being finalized, however fell via on the final minute.

In response to The Athletic’s Regulation Murray, the Clippers set their sights on Brogdon after Chris Paul, who they hoped to reunite with, was traded to the Golden State Warriors. They entered commerce discussions with the Celtics and Wizards, and ultimately an settlement was reached.

“[The Clippers] have been able to commerce [Marcus] Morris, [Amir] Coffey and the draft choose that was later used on [Kobe] Brown to finish the deal,” Murray wrote.

Nevertheless it wasn’t meant to be. Per Marc Stein, the Clippers grew involved over Brogdon’s unsure damage situation, doubtless with reference to a partial tendon tear in his elbow. They quickly modified their minds and nixed the deal. The Celtics and Wizards nonetheless needed an identical commerce to undergo and ultimately made one, however with out the Clippers.

“However after expressing misgivings with Brogdon’s damage historical past,” Murray wrote, “The Clippers ran out of time to finish the deal earlier than the Celtics moved on to a three-team commerce through which they stored Brogdon and traded Marcus Sensible to the Memphis Grizzlies as an alternative.”

The Clippers nonetheless had curiosity in buying Brogdon even after they known as off their unique deal, as Yahoo Sports activities’ Jake Fischer reported that they mentioned potential Brogdon offers with Boston roughly per week after Sensible was traded. However these talks finally went nowhere, and the Celtics ultimately shut down commerce discussions involving Brogdon a month later.

“We requested about [Brogdon] and we have been instructed he’s a valued member of [the Celtics’] workforce,” an nameless league supply instructed Heavy Sports activities. “[Boston] mentioned he’s a valued member of their workforce, and that’s the place it ended. I don’t know if that modifications down the road, however we didn’t get wherever. And I’m fairly positive we aren’t the one workforce that bought that response.”

The Celtics acquired Brogdon in July 2022 in a commerce that despatched Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Daniel Theis, Juwan Morgan, Malik Fitts and a draft choose that may later change into Julian Strawther to Indiana. In his first 12 months in Boston, Brogdon averaged 14.9 factors, 4.2 rebounds and three.7 assists per recreation on 48 % taking pictures from the sphere and 44 % from the three-point line. Brogdon led the Celtics’ second unit so properly that season that the NBA gave him the Sixth Man of the Yr Award for his efforts.

The Celtics clearly worth Brogdon, despite the fact that they practically parted methods with him. They nonetheless place confidence in him and remorse the unfavorable press the commerce rumors gave him.

“Malcolm is actually necessary,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens mentioned shortly after he traded for Porzingis. “That was robust. He definitely doesn’t deserve that, and I really feel for him. We’ve talked, clearly, since then. There are a variety of narratives on the market due to that, that definitely are inaccurate.”

Brogdon will stay a Celtic in the intervening time, and his workforce will proceed to belief him for the foreseeable future.