Malcolm Brogdon worked with the Pacers front office on his landing spot and reveals the three considerations
The former Pacers guard said he chose between two Eastern Conference teams, prioritized winning and no longer taking on the "brunt of the load."
Malcolm Brogdon revealed this week that he worked with the Pacers front office on his next destination, ultimately being dealt to the Boston Celtics in an offseason trade that sent five players to Indiana, along with a 2023 first-round pick.
Aaron Nesmith and Daniel Theis are still around; Juwan Morgan, Nik Stauskas and Malik Fitts were waived to create cap space to sign Deandre Ayton to an offer sheet.
The writing was on the wall that Brogdon’s time was up with the Pacers, especially once the team traded for Tyrese Haliburton just before the trade deadline. Haliburton, just 22, is their point guard of the present and future.
Brogdon, 29, played a career-low 36 (of 82) games last season as he dealt with a sore right Achilles tendon. However, he confirmed that he was available at the end of the season if the team needed him. By then, the focus was on the younger players and securing a better draft pick. They finished the season on a 10-game losing streak, then made their highest draft selection since 1988.
Brogdon said the Wizards considered parting with the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft for him, as was widely reported, and that the Raptors were another team in the mix.
Former Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren is on Nick Nurse’s staff in Toronto.