Report: Udoka’s Rockets eyeing two ex-Celtics at trade deadline
Not that All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are heading to the Western Conference to play for their former coach after departing Boston. However, prior to the NBA trade deadline on February 8, it appears that the Rockets are interested in two former Celtics.
Malcolm Brogdon of the Portland Trail Blazers is attracting “legitimate” attention from Houston, according to a report by Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer on Friday, which cited league officials. In addition, Brogdon’s Portland colleague, former Celtics big man Robert Williams, is apparently “definitely available” for trade, and Fischer mentioned that the Rockets are one of the clubs interested in him.
It’s not shocking that Houston is reportedly interested in Brogdon and Williams. While Udoka was suspended in September 2022 for breaking team rules and Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach, Brogdon did not play for Udoka during his one and only season in Boston in 2022–2023; instead, the 31-year-old guard was a member of the Celtics coaching staff that followed Udoka to the Rockets, including Ben Sullivan and Mike Moser.
Despite a decline in shooting % from the previous season to this one, Brogdon’s scoring and assist averages have climbed (15.7 and 5.3 per game, respectively), and he would be a valuable veteran addition to a group that, aside from Fred VanVleet and Jeff Green, is extremely young and inexperienced.
On a Celtics team that advanced to the NBA Finals, Williams, on the other hand, had his finest season as a professional under Udoka in 2021–2022, almost averaging a double-double (10.0 points and 9.6 rebounds) and blocking 2.2 shots per game. Williams’ knee ailment has forced him to miss the entire season, but the Rockets—who own the sixth-most cap space in the NBA—could afford to take a chance on Time Lord if they think Udoka can really go off next year.
With Williams’ injury, Brogdon lingering on the lottery-bound Blazers, Marcus Smart missing a large amount of time in Memphis, and Grant Williams having an inconsistent season in Dallas, it has been a difficult season for former Celtics players. but, it looks like Williams and Brogdon may join other clubs later this month; but, don’t count on them returning to the Celtics, who as of Friday had the best record in the NBA.
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