Celtics reportedly acquire Malcolm Brogdon from Pacers for five players and a first-round pick
The Boston Celtics got the point guard they were seeking Friday. Boston reportedly acquired Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with the Indiana Pacers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The deal will cost the Celtics five players and a 2023 first-round pick. None of the players going back to the Pacers are considering part of Boston's core.
The Celtics are sending Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith and a 2023 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/etqmr9l0l7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022
In exchange for Brogdon, the Pacers will receive Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas and Daniel Theis.
Brogdon, 29, averaged 19.1 points and 5.9 assists per contest last season. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the Milwaukee Bucks after the 2016-17 NBA season, and has been a solid player over his career, averaging 15.5 point and 4.8 assists over six seasons.
Brogdon has three years left on his contract. He'll make a little over $22 million in each of the next three seasons.
Celtics looking for point guard to lead them to championship
The move comes weeks after the Celtics fell to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Turnovers plagued the Celtics throughout the series. Boston had 23 turnovers in Game 6, including seven on 11 possessions at the end of the second quarter.
Those issues led some to question the Celtics needed to add a point guard. Marcus Smart took exception to those thoughts, telling the Boston Globe he feels confident in his ability at the position.
“I hear the talks about ‘He’s not a true point guard’ and this and that. ‘They need a star point guard.’ We’ve had star point guards, and yet this so-called non-point guard is the only one that’s led them to the Finals.
"I think that right there says enough. I don’t really need to say too much more. I think everybody sees and understands, finally, the person I really am, and what I can do given the opportunity.”
The Brogdon acquisition takes some pressure off Smart to be the team's primary option running the point.
