Brunson Or Bust For PBS?

[Ed Monix]

IMO, Brad Stevens is in a very difficult position.

There is no clear path for the Celtics to get a star, pass first point guard…that doesn’t some how include Brown or Tatum going in the other direction.

Jalen Brunson seems like the only viable option, yet even he comes with issues.

Brunson is on a cheap expiring deal, so matching contracts in a 1 for 1 trade is near impossible with our roster. Given he’s on an expiring, does Stevens wait till free agency to make a sign and trade? What if Brunson gets a huge offer from someone like Detroit?

Outside of Brunson, the Celtics are bereft of options regarding point guards:

Kyle Lowry - not leaving Miami

Lonzo Ball - not leaving Chicago

Kyrie Irving - not an option

James Harden - not an option

Jrue Holiday - not leaving Milwaukee

Darius Garland - not available

Ben Simmons - not available without moving Brown

LaMelo Ball - not available

Fred VanVleet - not available without moving Brown

Trae Young - not available

Cade Cunningham - not available

Chris Paul - not leaving Phoenix

Steph Curry - not leaving San Francisco

Mike Conley - not available (this season)

Luka Doncic - not available

Damian Lillard - not available

Tyrese Haliburton - not available without moving Brown

Dejounte Murray - not available without moving Brown

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - not available

—————————

Brad Stevens, let me introduce you to a rock and a hard place.

[Rondo9]

How about another option? Just wait it out until the summer where things will much more clearer?

[Celtics2021]

Malcolm Brogdon is probably an option.  I’m not a Dinwiddie fan, but he has a good assist rate and is available.

Jalen Brunson is I think the best choice, but there are others.  All of them will likely be available in the summer as well as at the deadline.

[Roy H.]

Malcolm Brogdon is probably an option.  I’m not a Dinwiddie fan, but he has a good assist rate and is available.

Jalen Brunson is I think the best choice, but there are others.  All of them will likely be available in the summer as well as at the deadline.

What would the cost of Brogdon be, do you thinlk?  I think I'd trust him more than Brunson.

[Celtics2021]

Malcolm Brogdon is probably an option.  I’m not a Dinwiddie fan, but he has a good assist rate and is available.

Jalen Brunson is I think the best choice, but there are others.  All of them will likely be available in the summer as well as at the deadline.

What would the cost of Brogdon be, do you thinlk?  I think I'd trust him more than Brunson.

Not sure.  He has significant durability concerns and is out again with Achilles soreness.

My hope would be we could send Richardson and Schröder somewhere for a prospect or player that Indiana wanted, and send another prospect to Indiana for Brogdon.  Something like Richardson-Schröder to Washington, Dinwiddie-Nesmith/Langford to Indiana, Brogdon to Boston.

[RJ87]

Malcolm Brogdon is probably an option.  I’m not a Dinwiddie fan, but he has a good assist rate and is available.

Jalen Brunson is I think the best choice, but there are others.  All of them will likely be available in the summer as well as at the deadline.

I'm good on Brogdon. The most games he's played in his career is 75 and that was his rookie year. He's missed large chunks of time every single season due to injuries. I don't have interest in putting our hopes in yet another injury plagued player. We've been set back injuries enough.

[Who]

I'd rather go with Brunson than Brogdon.

I don't think there is much difference between the two. There is a difference and it is in Brogdon's favour but I do not believe it is so large that it is worth the injury risk that Brogdon comes with.

I do believe Brogdon's stats have been inflated in Indiana from being the only real ball-handler / creator on the team for much of his time there. On a better team, he'd have to share the ball more and his stats will come down a bit although increase in efficiency. He was very efficient in a small role in Milwaukee. I expect something in between the two (stat-lines) when Brogdon finally leaves Indiana and joins a better team.

[Moranis]

Can Brogdon even be traded this year?  If the goal is this season, I don't think he is an option.

[td450]

A likely cheaper option that might be almost as good is Tyus Jones from Memphis

[Smartacus]

A likely cheaper option that might be almost as good is Tyus Jones from Memphis

The problem with that is that the difference between Brunson and Tyus Jones is likely the difference between a capable starting caliber PG and a great bench PG that can fill in as a spot starter.

IMO with a few more seasons of development Brunson can be within striking distance of a Fred Van Fleet level player, I'm not sure that Jones can.

[Ed Monix]

Can Brogdon even be traded this year?  If the goal is this season, I don't think he is an option.

You are correct, Malcolm Brogdon can’t be traded until next season, due to a contract extension.

Some important information about Brogdon; he’s making $22.6 million, he will be turning 30 during the 2022-23 season and has only played 28 games this season due to ongoing achilles issues.

[jambr380]

I mentioned it in another thread, but I'd take a chance on Sexton. Yes, I know by acquiring him this season we'd essentially be signaling to everybody that we aren't all-in on our Title hopes, but we'd have the ability to match anything he gets in FA this summer (something we can't do with Brunson).

Personally, I've enjoyed this team with scoring PGs these past several years. We would have had more success with Kemba if he wasn't injured.

[todd_days_41]

First of all, the title of this thread is amusing. Jalen Brunson.... or bust? Huh?

Meanwhile, a few comments on your list:

Ben Simmons - not available without moving Brown

Not worth Brown. I get the intrigue, but Simmons is a hard pass.

Tyrese Haliburton - not available without moving Brown

Brown isn't getting you Haliburton.

Dejounte Murray - not available without moving Brown

Not worth giving up Brown.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - not available

Correct. Tatum is the only player OKC would entertain this for.

[Celtics2021]

Can Brogdon even be traded this year?  If the goal is this season, I don't think he is an option.

Didn't realize Brogdon signed his extension in October.  I thought it was in August like everyone else.  2021 seems so long ago in any case.

[todd_days_41]

I mentioned it in another thread, but I'd take a chance on Sexton. Yes, I know by acquiring him this season we'd essentially be signaling to everybody that we aren't all-in on our Title hopes..

Uh, I think we signaled that to anyone with eyes a loooooong time ago.