Woj: Malcolm Brogdon S&T to Pacers for Picks (NO TPE)

[humanrefutation]

Malcolm currently plays for the Pacers. He would be a complete moron to say anything less than "Indiana was my first choice."

There are folks here who are looking for any reason to justify letting Brogdon walk. There are lots of legitimate arguments to justify letting him go, but the whole "he wanted to be in Indiana!" comment isn't one of them. By that logic, no team should ever match an offer sheet in RFA.

we let him walk and none of us are insiders so why wouldn't we look for reasons to justify it?

Because I don't work for LED or Horst and I'm not interested in affirming their decisions. I'm motivated first and foremost to build the best roster possible under the circumstances. That is what I'm interested in justifying.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

The whole "he didn't want to be here" thing is irrelevant. He was a restricted free agent. Unless you thought he'd become a complete malcontent and locker room cancer (based on literally everything we know about him, I seriously doubt it) it didn't matter where he wanted to be. We could have kept both him and Middleton.

I just wish I had anywhere near as strong of opinions and certainty about the move as apparently the rest of you do. Because whether it was the right move or not isn't going to be determined until the end of the postseason at the very least, and even further out than that unless we're all sitting here celebrating a championship in 7 months.

reports last year were that a player wanted out. you honestly think if we brought him back he wouldn't have become an issue?

id argue he already potentially was. im assuming his teammates could read the paper the same way we did. we may have not known who that guy was but they surely did

[Brewhoopfan]

Context is important. And we still don't have that. So we're all free to speculate away.

Here are some suggestions floated over the past few months: Which is most likely knowing what we know of Malcolm Brogdon?

Did he simply want out of Milwaukee because he hates the city?
Did he simply want out of Milwaukee because he hates the cold?
Did he not get along with Giannis?
Did he simply want a bigger role and knew that wouldn't be happening after finding out Middleton was getting the max?
Did he simply want a green light to chuck for ppgz and chase personal glory?

This. We don't know any of it. Malcolm is a smart dude and understands the PR aspect of talking to the media. If any of these were true, he isn't going to say it. If he'd still rather be in Milwaukee, he isn't going to say that either. Again, he is a smart dude. Too smart to give anyone a definitive answer to any of it. Yet, some are still trying to use his answers to do so.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

same exact situation as bogut. I had his back right up until I realized he wasn't going to stay healthy and wanted out. then you know what.... go mfer

[HaroldinGMinor]

I think the most obvious answer to all this is that he wanted a bigger role as a PG and wasn't going to get that opportunity here. Indiana was pretty darn good before Oladipo went down so it's not like he went to the Knicks or something. I'm sure everyone here will be on "pre-game hug watch" to see if there is bad blood but sometimes guys just want to do something different.

[Ron Swanson]

Sorry, I'm not gonna go with the narrative that paints a guy who was nothing but a model citizen both on and off the court during his time here as someone who would "become an issue" in the locker room simply because he wanted a bigger role on the team. We could have easily chose to keep him but we didn't and diversified assets elsewhere. Let's just leave it at that.

[JimmyTheKid]

same exact situation as bogut. I had his back right up until I realized he wasn't going to stay healthy and wanted out. then you know what.... go mfer

Except Bogut is and was always a colossal douchebag and Brogdon is a 10/10 human being. But do you.

[JimmyTheKid]

I think the most obvious answer to all this is that he wanted a bigger role as a PG and wasn't going to get that opportunity here. Indiana was pretty darn good before Oladipo went down so it's not like he went to the Knicks or something. I'm sure everyone here will be on "pre-game hug watch" to see if there is bad blood but sometimes guys just want to do something different.

Considering all of the information we have, I think that is a reasonable, and most likely, conclusion.

[neiLz]

The Jump just spent a whole segment on Giannis saying he wishes malcom was on the team. Now they are speculating that if the bucks wanted to keep Giannis long term they should have re-signed Brogdon. Windhorst chimed in and stated that the bucks spent a TON and got draft picks for Malcom... but they kept hammering that the bucks should have ponied up for malcom. They failed to mention yet again that malcom DID NOT want to be in MILWAUKEE and wanted to be a PG. I hate the media and creation of false narratives.

[humanrefutation]

If I had to guess what happened with Brogdon, it was the following:

1. He wanted to be paid what he believed he was worth, which was more than what the Bucks wanted to pay him. He thinks he's a better player than the Bucks put on display last year and he knows he was one of the leaders in the locker room. He wanted to be paid as such. That's the biggest issue here.

2. He would have liked bigger role than he had in Milwaukee, with more playmaking and ballhandling responsibilities, and once we re-upped Bledsoe, he knew that even with Hill walking he was going to be, at best, the third point man on the roster (behind Bled and Point Giannis).
3. Of the potential suitors, Indiana seemed like the best fit for him - good, hungry team with a respected HC that would still give him playoff opportunities - and they were willing to pay him what he wanted and give him a bigger role offensively. So it wasn't about specific enthusiasm with the Pacers as much as it was a desire for him to find the right fit.

But!

4. If the Bucks matched his offer sheet, would have been disappointed not to get a bigger role than he has on this team, but he would have been happy with the salary, would have come in and played professionally, would continue to be a leader in the locker room, and would have been happy to contribute to a title contender.

[dbrodz7]

I think the most obvious answer to all this is that he wanted a bigger role as a PG and wasn't going to get that opportunity here. Indiana was pretty darn good before Oladipo went down so it's not like he went to the Knicks or something. I'm sure everyone here will be on "pre-game hug watch" to see if there is bad blood but sometimes guys just want to do something different.

Considering all of the information we have, I think that is a reasonable, and most likely, conclusion.

I also don't blame a guy for wanting to go average and 20 and 10 on a different playoff team than being the 4th or 5th option on a championship team in a city he doesn't like.

[HaroldinGMinor]

If I had to guess what happened with Brogdon, it was the following:

1. He wanted to be paid what he believed he was worth, which was more than what the Bucks wanted to pay him. He thinks he's a better player than the Bucks put on display last year and he knows he was one of the leaders in the locker room. He wanted to be paid as such. That's the biggest issue here.

4. If the Bucks matched his offer sheet, would have been disappointed not to get a bigger role than he has on this team, but he would have been happy with the salary, would have come in and played professionally, would continue to be a leader in the locker room, and would have been happy to contribute to a title contender.

I honestly don't think money was a huge issue but I'll cede that point. What I find interesting is that you think money was the biggest issue but he would have been happy with less money.

[Chuck Diesel]

I don’t ascribe too much meaning to the “hug watch” stuff except that it’s kind of entertaining watching/perceiving the interpersonal dynamics of these dudes we invest so much of our time in. Friends can make terrible teammates, guys who are very socially distant can thrive together on the court.

That said, in my mind there was a stark difference in the way Giannis spoke of Brogdon last night compared to his comments about Jabari before their first time meeting as opponents. Giannis’s whole tone and demeanor, the way he joked about Brogdon being “ugly” were in contrast to the stone faced, diplomatic and coldly complimentary way he spoke about Jabari’s departure. Pretty clear who he was closer to/would’ve liked to keep playing with.

[emunney]

The Jump just spent a whole segment on Giannis saying he wishes malcom was on the team. Now they are speculating that if the bucks wanted to keep Giannis long term they should have re-signed Brogdon. Windhorst chimed in and stated that the bucks spent a TON and got draft picks for Malcom... but they kept hammering that the bucks should have ponied up for malcom. They failed to mention yet again that malcom DID NOT want to be in MILWAUKEE and wanted to be a PG. I hate the media and creation of false narratives.

Did they mention that the Bucks are 8-3 with by far the toughest schedule in the league?

[JimmyTheKid]

I don’t ascribe too much meaning to the “hug watch” stuff except that it’s kind of entertaining watching/perceiving the interpersonal dynamics of these dudes we invest so much of our time in. Friends can make terrible teammates, guys who are very socially distant can thrive together on the court.

That said, in my mind there was a stark difference in the way Giannis spoke of Brogdon last night compared to his comments about Jabari before their first time meeting as opponents. Giannis’s whole tone and demeanor, the way he joked about Brogdon being “ugly” were in contrast to the stone faced, diplomatic and coldly complimentary way he spoke about Jabari’s departure. Pretty clear who he was closer to/would’ve liked to keep playing with.

Agreed. I think we can also now shoot down the "Brogdon and Giannis didn't like each other or get along" rumor.

[crkone]

I don't know. I don't take the risk since his "agents made it work" to get him to Indiana and he's "in a better situation for me"?

[humanrefutation]

If I had to guess what happened with Brogdon, it was the following:

1. He wanted to be paid what he believed he was worth, which was more than what the Bucks wanted to pay him. He thinks he's a better player than the Bucks put on display last year and he knows he was one of the leaders in the locker room. He wanted to be paid as such. That's the biggest issue here.

4. If the Bucks matched his offer sheet, would have been disappointed not to get a bigger role than he has on this team, but he would have been happy with the salary, would have come in and played professionally, would continue to be a leader in the locker room, and would have been happy to contribute to a title contender.

I honestly don't think money was a huge issue but I'll cede that point. What I find interesting is that you think money was the biggest issue but he would have been happy with less money.

Huh? The first sentence implies they matched the salary offer from Indiana.

[sidney lanier]

As I'm sure has been pointed out in this thread, Brogdon is intelligent, well-spoken, socially conscious, and about as upstanding a citizen as you will find in professional sports. On the court he's efficient, an excellent finisher, a very good passer, and historically good at the FT line.

If I live long enough to see him run for president, I'll vote for him twice. But I wouldn't pay him 4/$85 to fill essentially the same role George Hill fills for $8M.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

same exact situation as bogut. I had his back right up until I realized he wasn't going to stay healthy and wanted out. then you know what.... go mfer

Except Bogut is and was always a colossal douchebag and Brogdon is a 10/10 human being. But do you.

if wed had then what we have now.....the first class organization, new packed arena, and had won 60 games as a contender...... I doubt bogut would have demanded out so he could shoot more but youre right i'll do me and you do you

[Plossum]

Did Bogut demand out? It was a long time ago but from what I recall he was traded essentially to shake up the roster.