Heading into any NBA season, there are unknowns. A player’s health status may be unclear. Often, that can be a defining feature of a season. A team’s fortune can rest on a player’s physical health.
The Boston Celtics know all too well. Apparently, Malcolm Brogdon has some health concerns. The Celtics will likely need him in 2023-24. Meanwhile, the health status of Robert Williams III is always in flux. The Celtics have as many health-related concerns as any team in the NBA.
Time will tell how this works out. If the Celtics are lucky, they’ll get good health from both of these key players. With that said, if they can get a healthy season out of just one of this pair, that’ll be lucky enough. If Brogdon is healthy, could they send him to the Los Angeles Lakers leading up to this season’s trade deadline?
The Trade Proposal
Boston Celtics Receive: G D’Angelo Russell, F/C Jarred Vanderbilt
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Malcolm Brogdon
With that said, unknown variables don’t only pertain to injuries. Age-related decline can set in at any time. Father Time is undefeated – if he doesn’t beat you now, he’s going to beat you later.
Will this be the season that he beats LeBron James? We don’t know. Without fail, we ask ourselves this every summer – will next year be the year that James’ production declines? Yet, without fail, James holds strong. He may not be in his prime anymore, but he was still a star-caliber producer in 2023-24.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Unfortunately, he’s not the only unknown on the Lakers. Anthony Davis was relatively healthy last season, but typically, he’s an injury risk as well. The Lakers will face pressing questions heading into the season – just like the Celtics. Should they consider trading for Brogdon throughout the year?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
Heading into last season, we were asking some different questions about the Lakers. We wondered if James and Russell Westbrook would be able to co-exist. We got our answer: they couldn’t. Eventually, the Lakers would move Westbrook for D’Angelo Russell.
To be sure, Russell was a better fit with James. His ability to space the floor made that certain. With that said, he’s still not an optimal fit. Russell is a pick-and-roll dominant point guard who likes to have the ball in his hands. By contrast, Brogdon is a little more comfortable off of the ball – and he’s a better defender, too.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
This deal can’t happen tomorrow. The Lakers just extended Russell, so they can’t move him yet. That’s fine – they’d probably want to wait on this one anyway. With that said, if Brogdon is performing at his peak level, they’re getting the best player in this trade. Should the Celtics give him up?
Why The Boston Celtics Do The Deal
Russell may not be an optimal fit with James. He feels like a better fit with the Celtics. Their two best players both thrive off of the ball. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both dynamic threats off of the ball.
With that said, a straight swap wouldn’t appeal to Boston. Brogdon is the more generally impactful player. So, they need a little more. Vanderbilt should qualify. He could be a tailor-made replacement for Williams III. Vanderbilt is a similarly versatile defensive big man.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Is he as impactful? No. With that said, he’s an insurance policy for a player who could desperately use one. The Celtics could even use Vanderbilt to manage Williams III’s minutes throughout the season. After all, he’s as unknown of an entity as any in the NBA.
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