Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

13-year NBA veteran questions why Malcolm Brogdon would be angry with Boston

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 9/19/23

Malcolm Brogdon may be angry with the Boston Celtics. The veteran guard was part of a failed three-team trade, where he was being sent to the Los Angeles Clippers. Brogdon suffered an elbow injury during the Eastern Conference Finals. The injury is a primary reason why the Clippers pulled out of the trade.

According to 13-year NBA veteran Antonio Daniels, Brogdon should understand that the NBA is a business. Trade talks aren't personal. It's about a team trying to improve.

"As an organization, you have to do what's in your best interest. And, as a player, it's your job to adjust to that," Daniels said on a recent episode of NBA Radio." "...If I'm Malcolm Brogdon, I have to understand this. I'm not saying I have to like it. But I'm at a point now that I should understand; this is what the NBA is. It's a business, first. It's a business before anything else...I also have to understand that my situation can change, that's the business side."

“It’s amazing how guys struggle with grasping that concept”.

Antonio Daniels reacts to the report on Brogdon being upset with Celtics in relation to trade talks.@ADaniels33 | @RickKamlaSports | #BleedGreen pic.twitter.com/0Tp9Fcd6OC
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 18, 2023

In a recent appearance on the "Celtics Beat" podcast, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe noted how Brogdon's happiness in Boston will be a big question heading into training camp. Last season, Brogdon accepted a bench role with the Celtics. The veteran guard performed exceptionally well, becoming the Sixth Man of the Year. Yet, the reason Boston kept Brogdon on the bench was due to his concerning injury history.

Brogdon may see it as he made a sacrifice to help the Celtics win. Boston will view it as they put Brogdon in a position to succeed. Neither side has the moral high ground. However, the veteran guard needs to remain professional when the new season begins.

The Celtics weren't trying to send Brogdon to a rebuilding team where he wouldn't have a chance of success. The Clippers have some elite talent and are a threat in the Western Conference.

When training camp begins, Boston needs everybody on the same page. If Brogdon brings negative vibes to the locker room, he may find himself back on the trade block before the February deadline.

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