Cedric Maxwell spoke more about the situation than the person. Maxwell, a former Boston Celtics star and current radio analyst for the team, recently offered his opinion on the team’s recent acquisition of veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon.
Maxwell was asked how he thought Brogdon would fit into a team with point guard Marcus Smart and two young stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. His mind immediately went back to 1983, when his team acquired future Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson from the Phoenix Suns.
The Boston Celtics added veteran trading experience for Malcolm Brogdon
The Celtics didn’t waste much time trying to repeat themselves as Eastern Conference champions. Less than a month after the 2022 NBA Finals, Boston stepped up by sending five players and a draft pick to Brogdon. Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Nick Stauskas, Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan went to the Indiana Pacers along with a first-round draft pick in exchange for the six-year veteran.
Whether Brogdon cracks the starting lineup or comes off the bench, the Celtics have increased their guard rotation. They went eight deep during the playoffs and seemed to run out of gas late in the championship series against the Warriors.
Brogdon will join Smart, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard as guards who can lead the point. He has averaged 15.5 points and 4.8 assists throughout his pro career. In 33 games with the Pacers last year, Brogdon averaged 19.1 points and 5.9 assists.
He is a moderator who can also shoot. He had a bad year from three-point country last season, shooting 31.2%. For his career, he’s at 37.6%, including a career-high 42.6% in his third and final year with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018-19 season.
Maxwell compares the Celtics move to signing Johnson in 1983
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How does Brogdon fit in with the Celtics? Maxwell voiced these thoughts by comparing Brogdon’s deal to Boston’s 1983 acquisition of Johnson. He said Brogdon will understand his role as much as Johnson.
Johnson came by after wearing out his reception with both the Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns due to poor attitude. Brogdon came over for a different reason. The Pacers want to get younger and dealt out the veterans for a draft pick and a young player package. Despite the different personalities, the Brogdon deal immediately sparked thoughts of Johnson, Maxwell’s former teammate.
“I still think of one guy in particular,” Maxwell said, per NBC Sports Boston, “who they said was a malconetnt, and that was Dennis Johnson. He came from Phoenix. Nobody liked him.
“Then he circled players who got the game and put him in a position where he looks dude you’re not the best but you’ll be one of the best if you play like that.
“I think the culture works for him. I think the possibility of winning a championship works for him and I happen to like it when he comes in. He is an intermediary. He is a point guard and can shoot the ball. I like him in late game situations with his decision making.
“I think he will come here and understand his role.”
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