Clippers, Celtics Almost Made This Major Offseason Trade

The Los Angeles Clippers were ready to trade Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey and a 2023 draft pick to the Boston Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon, but the medical evaluation of Brogdon led to the Clippers pulling out of the trade, according to NBA insider Law Murray of The Athletic. Brogdon has a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm.

“They then pivoted to Celtics Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, and were ready to trade Morris, Coffey and the draft pick that was later used on Brown to complete the deal,” Murray wrote. “But after expressing misgivings with Brogdon’s injury history, the Clippers ran out of time to complete the deal before the Celtics moved on to a three-team trade in which they kept Brogdon and traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies instead.”

Brogdon won the NBA 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 NBA 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.

The Clippers re-engaged the Celtics about acquiring Brogdon in late June, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. It looks like Boston rebuffed Los Angeles’ trade interest since Brogdon is still on the Celtics, who traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks and acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards this summer.

Brogdon has career NBA averages of 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Bucks, Pacers and Celtics. The 30-year-old was happy the Clippers didn’t acquire him since he wanted to stay in Boston, a league source told NBA Analysis Network.