An NBA team does not like to regress. If they hit a certain level in a given season, they’re looking to meet or exceed that mark in the following year. With that said, that isn’t always realistic. Sometimes, teams regress.
Look at the Boston Celtics. This team advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. That’s a successful year – in a vacuum. In context, the Celtics had made the NBA Finals in the previous season. The Celtics regressed.
The New York Knicks did not. In fact, they improved dramatically between the last two NBA seasons. Now, they’ve got a new standard. The Knicks need to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs or beyond next season. Otherwise, they’ll regress in their own right. Could the Celtics’ Malcolm Brogdon help them avoid that fate?
The Trade Proposal
Boston Celtics receive: G/F Evan Fournier, C Isaiah Hartenstein
New York Knicks receive: G Malcolm Brogdon
With that said, some teams can afford to regress more than others. More than anything, it depends on the average age of their core group. An older team has less room to breathe – they need to continue advancing, or their front office may pull the plug and start rebuilding.
The Celtics aren’t near that point. Sure, their regression was enough to lead them to tinkering. Marcus Smart is out, and Kristaps Porzingis is in. Still, the Jayson Tatum / Jaylen Brown duo has room to breathe. The Celtics just extended Brown. The Celtics could lose in the second round this year, and Boston probably still wouldn’t break their two stars up.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics & New York Knicks Updates
What if they regress in the following year? In that event, the Celtics could reconsider their options. Every situation has an expiration date. The end goal is an NBA title. If a team isn’t looking likely to achieve that goal, general managers break them up. Does this deal get Boston closer to its goals?
Why The Boston Celtics Do The Deal
Not directly. The Celtics are giving up the best player in this deal. There’s a very real risk that making this deal could cause them to regress next season. That’s fine – Boston would have to consider it anyway.
After all, this roster is about to get expensive. This deal affords them some short-term cap relief. Fournier’s deal expires after this season, whereas Brogdon has two years left on his deal. Boston should be happy to take back an expiring contract. Meanwhile, Fournier is an offensively talented player – while Derrick White is similar to Brogdon, Fournier could offer a different dynamic to this team’s attack.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics & New York Knicks Updates
Meanwhile, Hartenstein is largely Robert Williams III insurance. Williams III is the more impactful player, but he’s constantly hurt. By contrast, Hartenstein is reliable, and a talented player in his own right. His solid defense and passing should make him a good fit on this roster. Should the Knicks give Hartenstein up?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
The Knicks would be short a backup big man following this deal. That’s a concern, but it’s ultimately a minor one. The Knicks could lean into Jericho Simms or Nathan Knight. If neither is up to the task, they could turn to the waiver wire to replace Hartenstein.
Either way, Brogdon is worth this cost. The Knicks are getting him at a discount here due to some injury concerns. That makes Brogdon a risk – but he’s one worth taking. When healthy, he’s an exceedingly valuable combo guard. Brogdon can run the offense for stretches, defend well, and space the floor for the Knicks’ playmakers.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics & New York Knicks Updates
In all likelihood, the Knicks would use him as a sixth man. After all, Brogdon is the league’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year. All told, adding Brogdon should make the Knicks a better team. He may be able to help them avoid regression.
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