If Celtics Trade Malcolm Brogdon, Here's a Realistic Return Who'd Be a Better Fit

The restrictive nature of the new CBA and questions about Malcolm Brogdon's durability and fit could lead to the Celtics trading him.

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The restrictive nature of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and the expectation the Celtics offer Jaylen Brown a five-year, $295 million veteran supermax extension, which the All-NBA wing accepts, forces Boston to make difficult decisions about its current rotation.

Brown's extension wouldn't take effect until the 2024-25 campaign, and while a one-year grace period to prepare for the policies of the new CBA is a faster transition than it should be, teams could procrastinate this summer.

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So, if the Celtics are willing to financially, they could extend Brown, re-sign Grant Williams, and keep Malcolm Brogdon.

If the latter hadn't suffered a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm, an injury he said has him contemplating surgery, perhaps Boston would be in the Finals.

Instead, Brogdon played 7:55 in Game 5 against the Heat, was inactive for the next matchup, and logged a disastrous 7:05 scoreless shift in Game 7, where he was a minus-15.

He averaged 5.7 points for the series and shot 30.8 percent from the field, making less than one three per contest on 16.7 percent shooting beyond the arc.

But Miami was the better team in the Eastern Conference Finals, and injuries are a part of sports.

The former Virginia Cavalier's history with the latter -- including a foot injury that caused him to fall out of the first round of the 2016 draft -- is why the Celtics brought him off the bench this season.

Aiming to have him at his best in the playoffs, Brogdon played 26 minutes per contest in the regular season.

He produced 14.9 points, the highest scoring average among players who never cracked the starting lineup in the 82-game campaign. He also grabbed 4.2 rebounds and dished out 3.7 assists per contest.

He also nearly shot his way into the 50/40/90 club for the second time in his career, shooting 48.4 percent from the field, knocking down a career-best 44.4 percent of the 4.4 threes he hoisted, the fourth-highest accuracy rate in the NBA, and converted on 87 percent of his free throws.

That earned Brogdon Sixth Man of the Year honors. And entering the playoffs, he said his body's never felt better at the end of the regular season.

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Chalk the injury that compromised his shooting up to bad luck. But does Boston want to bet on his durability? Needing to prepare for the new collective bargaining agreement makes it less likely the answer's yes.

Furthermore, the six-foot-five guard didn't meet expectations defensively or as a facilitator.

So, while there's an argument for keeping him and that his shooting makes him an effective crunch-time complement to Jayson Tatum and Brown, the Celtics could trade him for someone who's a better fit.

If they go that route, Dorian Finney-Smith meets that description.

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The six-foot-seven hard-nosed wing is a talented and versatile defender, meshing with the calls from Boston's players to return to an identity where defense sets the table for its success.

And while this isn't to say the former Florida Gator lives above the rim, he'd bring more athleticism. He'd also allow the Celtics to play with three wings while keeping Tatum at the three, his best position.

They could re-sign Grant Williams and bring Finney-Smith off the bench, whether they want to or it's necessary to retain the former. Either way, utilizing a lineup featuring the latter, Tatum, and Brown would make it easier to tap into what their star wings are capable of in transition, where they'd consistently find their new running mate sprinting the floor alongside them.

And while last season was a down one for the recently turned 30-year-old wing who went from the Mavericks to the Nets in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to Dallas, Finney-Smith shot 38.9 percent on 4.9 three-point attempts over the previous three campaigns combined.

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From a salary standpoint, Brogdon's on the books for $22.5 million each of the next two seasons. Finney-Smith has a $13.9 million cap hit in 2023-24 and $14.9 million in 2024-25. He has a player option for $15.4 million for 2025-26.

While Boston and Brooklyn couldn't execute a solo swap, the former could exercise Mike Muscala's $3.5 million club option, then trade him when he's eligible, with Patty Mills, on an expiring $6.8 million contract, joining the Celtics.

Even if Boston plans on declining Muscala's team option if it doesn't trade him, only factoring in the money saved from moving Brogdon, the Celtics shave $1.8 million off their books. At a time when the NBA's trying to forcefully reduce what teams are spending, trimming payroll by any amount carries added importance.

Mills is also a positive and high-energy individual with a high basketball IQ and a championship ring from his contributions to the 2014 Spurs, for this author's money, the best passing team of all time -- apologies to the 1986 Celtics.

The value in having Mills in the locker room and on the sidelines would also be a plus in a potential deal that, to this author, is worth making.

Further Reading

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After Hiring Sam Cassell, Celtics Linked to Another Top Assistant

Stephen Silas, Target for Celtics Coaching Staff, Signs with Detroit Pistons

Sam Cassell Checks Nearly Every Box in Celtics Search to Strengthen Joe Mazzulla's Coaching Staff

Danny Ainge Discusses Celtics' Unfulfilled Potential

Are the Celtics Small Tweaks from a Title? Brad Stevens Thinks So

Brad Stevens Says Celtics View Jaylen Brown as a 'Big Part of Us Moving Forward'

Brad Stevens Discusses Joe Mazzulla's First Year as Celtics' Bench Boss, Strengthening Coaching Staff: 'Joe's Experience Now, You Could Probably Measure in Dog Years'

Celtics' Coaching Staff Reportedly Undergoing Major Shakeup

Celtics' Championship Aspirations Undermined by Identity Crisis