The Washington Wizards turned the third workforce to purchase Malcolm Brogdon in as many offseasons — becoming a member of the Boston Celtics and Portland Path Blazers — however they’ll turn into the primary to probably miss the 31-year-old for Opening Night time.
Brogdon suffered a hand damage, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic, which prompted the Wizards to ship the eight-year veteran again to Washington for additional medical examination to raised perceive the accidents prolong. It additionally implies that Brogdon’s debut can be delayed and the Wizards will end up their preseason with out Brogdon earlier than kicking off the 2024-25 marketing campaign in opposition to the Celtics on Oct. 24.
Washington traded ahead Deni Avdija to Portland in alternate for Brogdon and two draft alternatives, slating the 2023 Sixth Man of the 12 months winner for one more 12 months with a bottom-of-the-barrel performing franchise. Brogdon, though restricted to 39 appearances with Portland, performed the veteran chief function with the Path Blazers — the youngest workforce within the NBA final season. He averaged 15.7 factors with 3.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists, taking pictures 44% from the sector earlier than lacking the ultimate 33 video games of the season with a proper elbow tendinitis damage as Portland proceeded to complete useless final within the Western Convention.
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Now, with the workforce that completed second-to-last within the Japanese Convention final season, Brogdon will look to once more be a productive presence in Washington’s locker room. The Wizards, too, have undergone a rebuild of their very own, transport out Kristaps Porzingis final offseason whereas trying to assemble a workforce round Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. Brogdon’s outdoors taking pictures, calm tempo demeanor and rotational flexibility ought to all pay dividends to no matter Washington is striving to perform. Granted, it’ll add yet one more difficult chapter to Brogdon’s current stretch of instability.
Brogdon accepted a backseat function in Boston, taking part in off the bench behind Marcus Good and Derrick White and didn’t waver. As an alternative, Brogdon offered starter-level manufacturing for the Celtics and helped drive the workforce to a bid on the NBA Finals. It didn’t work out in Boston and the injury-riddled 39-game run in Portland presumably did no justice by Brogdon’s inventory worth within the eyes of contending franchises, nevertheless, that doesn’t rule out workforce’s reaching out to Washington halfway by means of the upcoming 12 months to inquire about Brogdon earlier than the traded deadline.
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“I’ve been right here for the reason that starting of September so I’ve been with (Washington’s rookies) for the previous month,” Brogdon informed reporters on media day, per team-provided video. “I’ve constructed a superb relationship with all of them. Various kinds of relationships however they’re all nice guys. They work and I’m excited to play with them. We’ve had a number of conversations. … Now I’m in 12 months 9 and fifth workforce and it’s nonetheless an journey.”
