The Indiana Pacers missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the first time that's happened since 2007-10. And the franchise seems to believe it is time for big changes.
The team traded All-Star Domantas Sabonis mid-season for second-year floor general Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Jalen Smith re-signed with the Pacers on a two-year deal. The Pacers also drafted Arizona's Bennedict Mathurin, who showed some promise in the NBA Summer League, as well as Gonzaga's Andrew Nembhard and Baylor's Kendall Brown.
Indiana also signed center Deandre Ayton, but the Phoenix Suns matched the offer sheet, making the Pacers' situation with Myles Turner a bit awkward.
Although the Pacers' moves in the 2022 NBA offseason were definitely aiming for the future, one of them could make the fans scratch their heads once the season starts.
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Pacers' Worst 2022 Offseason Move
Malcolm Brogdon has proven he can be a good starting point guard in the NBA. In three seasons in Indiana, the former Rookie of the Year averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds.
However, he has been battling injuries in the last couple of years, including just suiting up for 36 games in 2021-22. Additionally, Brogdon is relatively older than other pieces of the Pacers' young core, turning 30 in December. Still, the former Virginia Cavalier had three seasons left in his contract and could have been an important locker room presence and mentor to players such as Chris Duarte.
Moving Brogdon could be a good move if the team wants to get younger and develop others. The real problem was what the Pacers got in return for him.
The Boston Celtics sent Aaron Nesmith, Daniel Theis, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and a (protected) 2023 first-round pick to acquire Brogdon. None of the players played significant minutes in the Finals versus the Golden State Warriors. If the Celtics run it back, the 2023 draft selection will likely be very low. Stauskas, Fitts and Morgan were already waived by the Pacers in the failed move to sign Ayton.
Nesmith is still only 22 and, as a former lottery selection, could continue to improve in a team that is not desperate to win. He is likely the most valuable piece the Pacers got in the trade due to his age and potential.
But it begs the question: was this the best the Pacers could have gotten for Brogdon?
Brogdon is a starting-caliber guard who is a solid defender and was part of the 50-40-90 club in 2019. He also provides playmaking and could be a perfect sixth man for Boston.
For comparison, the Celtics acquired Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs last season by sending them one first-round pick and a pick swap, plus Romeo Langford and Josh Richardson. White is just one year younger than Brogdon, has the same length of contract remaining and has fewer NBA accolades.
Parting ways with Brogdon was not necessarily the worst move but what the Pacers got in return was.
If the Pacers tried, they could have found a better offer. Perhaps more draft selections, more young pieces that could be part of the rotation, or at least some seasonal veteran to bring leadership. With how the market is going, the Pacers could have been part of larger trades with teams such as the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angles Lakers that would have sent more assets to them.
It will probably be difficult for fans to see Malcolm Brogdon wearing green while only a few pieces of the trade actually wear an Indiana jersey. Unless Nesmith develops into a solid rotational player and the 2023 selection works out, this trade could haunt the Pacers fans for years to come.
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