Malcolm Brogdon Embracing Sixth-Man Role with Celtics

Malcolm Brogdon is prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to get back to competing for a championship.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In an appearance on ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski's Woj Pod on Monday, Malcolm Brogdon provided further insight into the trade that brings him to Boston.

Embracing a youth movement, the Pacers traded the veteran point guard on an expiring $22.6 million contract to the Celtics in exchange for a 2023 first-round draft pick, former lottery pick Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan, and Nik Stauskas.

Shortly after news of the deal broke, Boston became betting favorites to win the 2023 NBA title.

USATSI_17781692
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Acquiring Brogdon addressed multiple needs for the Celtics, but for it to work, it also meant him embracing coming off the bench for the first time since the early stages of his career. So, as Boston and Indiana worked towards a deal, Celtics' president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, made it a point to gauge Brogdon's willingness to make that sacrifice.

"He talked about me coming into Boston and embracing a sixth man role," shared Brogdon. "If I wanted to come to Boston, that would be one of the things I needed to embrace. For me, I’ve made a lot of money. Whatever I can sacrifice to get back to that championship level, I’m willing to do it."

That buy-in let Stevens and the Celtics know they could finalize the trade for a player they deem an ideal fit in their championship quest.

USATSI_17926750
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

In Brogdon, Boston adds a reliable ball-handler, including under pressure, who's never averaged more than 2.4 turnovers. For his career, the six-year veteran's coughing the ball up just 1.8 times per game.

While he's more scorer than facilitator, he's effective at both, producing 19.1 points and 5.9 assists per game last season. He also can play on and off the ball. And while he struggled from beyond the arc in 2021-22 (31.2 percent), he's a career 37.6 percent three-point shooter on 4.2 attempts. In 2020-21, he launched 6.7 threes per contest and converted them at a 38.8 percent clip.

He's someone the Celtics can trust to knock down catch-and-shoot threes, as evidenced by him drilling at least 35 percent of his attempts of this nature every season of his career besides last year, including averaging three catch-and-shoot long-range field goals and making 44.4 percent of them in 2020-21, per NBA.com.

USATSI_17171978
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

He can also attack a closeout and produce a positive outcome, works at a slower pace but tends to get to the rim, where he's a reliable finisher, and he'll score off cuts. Ime Udoka can also utilize him as a short roller, providing an outlet for Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown if Brogdon's defender chooses to blitz the screen.

At the other end of the floor, the six-foot-five Brogdon is a versatile perimeter defender, who can clog passing lanes when he's not guarding the ball. Knowing what he can add to the league's top-ranked defense further excites the now former Pacer about joining the Celtics.

"Defensively, I think we’re gonna build the best defensive team in the NBA,” expressed Brogdon. "I think the gap only widens now that I’m on the team."

The Celtics will introduce Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari, who officially signed with Boston on Sunday, at a press conference later this week. 

Further Reading

Malcolm Brogdon Thought He Was Headed to Wizards Before Celtics Traded for Him

Danilo Gallinari Clears Waivers, Officially Signs with Celtics

[Film Room] JD Davison's Mostly Positive Summer League Debut

How Will Celtics Round Out Their Roster?

With Thomas Bryant Off the Board, Here's Who the Celtics Might Add at Center

Celtics Announce Summer League Roster

Celtics Retain Sam Hauser, Addressing Their Need for Another Layer of Forward Depth

Should the Celtics Trade Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant?


Published
Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.