Celtics acquire Malcolm Brogdon from Indiana
Malcolm Brogdon is heading to the Celtics following a trade from the Pacers, and he could soon be joined by Danilo Gallinari.
The Indiana Pacers have agreed to trade point guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Boston Celtics, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday, bolstering the backcourt of the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
Indiana are getting a 2023 first-round draft pick from the Celtics, along with Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan.
The Celtics set out to find a traditional point guard this offseason after last season’s NBA Finals run came up short largely due to a high turnover rate. Boston committed 353 turnovers during their 24-game playoff run, the most since the 2003 San Antonio Spurs (365).
Jayson Tatum was responsible for 100 of those turnovers, the most by a player in a single postseason since the league started tracking turnovers in 1977-78.
Brogdon averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season for Indiana but was limited to just 36 games by a lingering injury to his right Achilles tendon.
A second round pick out of Virginia, Brogdon spent his first three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and won Rookie of the Year in 2016-17. He has spent the past three seasons with the Pacers.
Even after acquiring Brogdon, Boston top executive Brad Stevens may not be done adding to the Celtics’ roster.
ESPN reported earlier on Friday that veteran forward Danilo Gallinari – who was traded to the Spurs and was then to be waived – has identified Boston as his preferred landing spot.