The Indiana Pacers offseason began with yet another coaching change. Following the team’s disappointing season, as they lost in the NBA Play-In Tournament to the Washington Wizards, the team fired head coach Nate Bjorkgren.
Bjorkgren’s hiring was met with some skepticism right away. Forward T.J. Warren, who was excellent in the Orlando Bubble, requested a trade once he found out that Bjorkgren was hired as the Pacers’ head coach. He went 34-38 in his one season as Indiana’s head man.
Rick Carlisle will be taking over as head coach from Bjorkgren, returning to the team he coached from 2003-2007. It will be the third head coach in three seasons for the Pacers, who fired Nate McMillan following the Orlando Bubble in 2020.
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and not having advanced beyond the first round since 2014, the Pacers were expected to shake up their roster this offseason. More than a week into free agency, there has not been much done to shake things up.
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Indiana lost Doug McDermott in free agency to the San Antonio Spurs and traded Aaron Holiday to the Washington Wizards. T.J. McConnell was re-signed and Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson were both selected in the 2021 NBA Draft. Torrey Craig is the only free agent from another team that was signed by the Pacers.
One player that could be used to shake up the roster is guard Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon was acquired in a sign-and-trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019 and had a career season in 2020-21.
So, why would the Pacers want to move on from their starting point guard? Here are three reasons Indiana should look to trade Brogdon still this offseason.