Malcolm Brogdon the key to a Boston Celtics championship run
Where there is a gray cloud hovering about the Boston Celtics organization in wake of the Ime Udoka year-long suspension and ongoing speculation, there is a bright spot. Other than the continuing maturation of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, newcomer Malcolm Brogdon brings excitement, optimism, and a fresh start.
Considered one of the best offseason moves in the NBA, the addition of Brogdon to a Celtics team two games away from an NBA championship made them instant favorites to return to the finals and win it.
Experience, scoring, the thought of him paired with Marcus Smart in the backcourt are all reasons Brogdon has fans excited about what he brings to the table. More importantly, the veteran guard wanted to come to Boston and play for a team that he feels is on a verge of winning a title.
"“The Pacers did me really well,” Brogdon said during Celtics Media Day. “They gave me the option of picking between a few teams, and I picked Boston because I want to win. It doesn’t matter if I’m the sixth man, whatever role I’m playing. I’m going to accept it and I’m going to go out there and embrace it. I want to add on to what this team has. This team has a great unit, great chemistry. They were on the verge of winning a championship as we saw and they needed a little bit more. So I’m going to come and add-on to what’s already going on.”"
Malcolm Brogdon gives the Boston Celtics more options
As a player who could drop 20+ points on any given night, Brogdon not only gives the Boston Celtics a deeper bench, but is also a player who could step into the starting lineup and a player who could be that third scoring option aside from Tatum and Brown.
There is also the veteran leadership he brings to the team. A leadership that could and should help a Celtics team transition past the current ongoing drama surrounding their suspended head coach. Unlike the core group of players, Brogdon doesn’t have that connection with Udoka and that’s where he presents a fresh start. As a player in the locker room, he can help the other players move forward, which will help interim head coach Joe Mazzulla.
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Like Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and other players, Brogdon also praised what Mazzulla brings to the table.
"“He’s honestly an incredibly impressive guy,” Brogdon said. “Joe I think is only 34 years old, but he’s incredibly disciplined. So he’s a guy that’s paying attention to everything. He’s a guy that’s incredibly locked in and intelligent. I’ve heard from the players’ perspective, they love him. His ability to put together scouts, I heart against Miami and against a few teams last year in the playoffs, were brilliant. He’s gotten that reputation around the league as well as I’ve talked to people. So I think he’s a guy that’s ready for this opportunity and is gonna grab it.”"
There is also an opportunity ahead for Malcolm Brogdon and the Boston Celtics to grab. Despite the loss Udoka, despite losing Danilo Gallinari for possibly the entire season and despite losing Robert Williams for the first part of the 2022-23 NBA season, the Celtics have the talent, depth, and motivation to still make some serious noise.
Next. Brad Stevens not taking over for Udoka the right choice. dark
With Brogdon in the mix, the Boston Celtics should still have a special season ahead. A core of Tatum, Brown, Al Horford, Smart, Brogdon and eventually Robert Williams is as good as it gets in the NBA.