Malcolm Brogdon Wanted To Get Traded By Celtics

Malcolm Brogdon spent the summer wanting a new start elsewhere but did not want to hold out at training camp, according to NBA insider Jared Weiss of The Athletic. The Boston Celtics traded Brogdon to the Portland Trail Blazers in the blockbuster Jrue Holiday trade.

Brogdon was upset with how the Celtics handled his elbow injury, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. The veteran guard has a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm.

Brogdon won the Sixth Man of the Year Award last season. He averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 67 games for the Celtics while shooting 48.4% from the field, 44.4% from beyond the arc and 87.0% from the free-throw line.

The 2016-17 Rookie of the Year with the Milwaukee Bucks, Brogdon signed a two-year, $85 million contract extension with the Indiana Pacers in October 2021. He’ll make $22.5 million next season.

Brogdon has career averages of 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Bucks, Pacers and Celtics. He is not expected to stay with the Blazers.

“But as the ill-fated agreement was coming together, rumors began to circulate that Brogdon required surgery on the partially torn elbow tendon that ended his season early, and reports suggested there might have been more injury concerns that could put his long-term health in jeopardy,” Weiss wrote. “Because he was planning to simply rehab the elbow and the other areas of concern in his lower body felt relatively fine, according to sources briefed on his recovery plan, Brogdon became increasingly frustrated.”

The Los Angeles Clippers are interested in acquiring Brogdon from the Blazers, league sources told NBA Analysis Network.