Sometimes all a player wants it to be valued. Sometimes it’s not about the rings. It’s not about being a starter or anything else. Despite the success that he had in Boston, Malcolm Brogdon feels more valued with Portland.
“I was there for a year, won Sixth Man of the Year, and they shipped me out. So like … I didn’t feel very valued there,” Brogdon told Jason Quick of The Athletic. “Here, I feel valued. Portland has embraced me. And I’ve enjoyed being coached by Chauncey (Billups).”
It’s not shocking because he only spent a year with the Celtics. Following the season, the Celtics were quick to put Brogdon on the trade block. Once Brogdon had gotten wind of the rumors, he was pretty upset as one could expect. A player who had given everything he could to Boston.
Portland has had little success this season, but when they have its partly because they have no egos on this year’s team. They don’t have a superstar quite yet, though they have some guys who can reach that level. Chauncey Billups has used Brogdon in many different roles with Portland. He’s serving as a veteran to younger guards Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, but he’s also taken on a lead guard role. He’s averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 assists this season.
Brogdon added: “I’m happy here. I’m valued here. Valued in this leadership/lead-guard role. And I can’t complain with that. I’m happy in Portland.”
Brogdon has been thrown around in trade rumors while with Portland, but it’s not a guarantee that the team will trade him. The Blazers certainly enjoy having his veteran leadership and he’s under contract through next season.
Brogdon certainly had a case to be untouchable with the Celtics. Coming off a campaign where he won the sixth-man of the year award. With the C’s trading Marcus Smart, he was in line to be a starter until they traded him.
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