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NBA rumors: Surprise team interested in Trail Blazers' Malcolm … – Rip City Project
Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Malcolm Brogdon is expected to play a role this season as a veteran guard in a young Portland Trail Blazers backcourt, but a reasonable argument can be made for the 30-year-old not being with the team long-term.
Brogdon was acquired as part of the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to Boston. The idea behind moving Holiday on, at least in part, was that the Trail Blazers are focused on developing Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons – all 24 years old or younger – and an older guard would only siphon minutes from that development.
It would make sense, then, that Brogdon would be a trade candidate, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, as both Portland and last season’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year have stated they’re content with the current pairing.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be interest from other teams, though, likely contenders who could use a veteran guard off the bench, but it appears there’s a non-contender in the market for the Blazers’ newest guard, as well.
According to Yahoo’s Jake Fischer, the Houston Rockets – who just made a roster move in anticipation of the regular season – hold interest in Brogdon.
Houston recently traded guard Kevin Porter Jr., along with two second-round picks, to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Jeramiah Robinson-Earl. Fischer reports that the Rockets will attempt to trade Oladipo and his $9.5 million salary for players who can help them make a push for this year’s play-in tournament.
Houston shelled out money for Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in free agency this offseason and hired a new head coach in Ime Udoka, so the franchise apparently believes it’s ready to take a step forward.
In a loaded Western Conference, though, and with a crop of young players like Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore, the Rockets might be out over their skis.
Brogdon would make sense if Houston is determined to make a run at a postseason berth, though. The 2017 Rookie of the Year is a steady player on both ends of the floor and has played in 43 playoff games.
It doesn’t look like a move is in the works anytime soon, though, as Fischer adds that both Brogdon and the Trail Blazers are planning to move forward as a partnership for now.
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