Knicks reportedly interested in possible trade for Pacers’ Malcolm Brogdon
Regardless of how you feel about Immanuel Quickley, the New York Knicks have been looking elsewhere in pursuit of a point guard. Jalen Brunson seemed to be New York’s most attainable target in free agency, but that’s changed over the past couple of months. With his value shooting up, the Knicks could trade for Malcolm Brogdon.
The 29-year-old point guard was the Milwaukee Bucks’ No. 36 pick in the 2016 draft. He’s spent the past three seasons with the Indiana Pacers and in 2021-22, Brogdon averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while shooting 44.8% from the field and 31.2% from the 3-point line in 36 games.
Ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, the Pacers traded for 22-year-old point guard Tyrese Haliburton and parted ways with Domantas Sabonis. Given the direction that Indiana seems to be headed in, there have been trade rumors surrounding both Brogdon and center Myles Turner.
In Jake Fischer’s recent piece for Bleacher Report, he wrote that Brogdon has been “linked” to New York in recent days. There’s been talk about Brogdon joining the Knicks over the past few months, but it’s notable that it still seems to be very much a possibility in mid-June.
The Knicks have been ‘linked’ to Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon
Fischer mentioned that New York was interested in Turner leading up to the trade deadline, but there doesn’t seem to be any added traction on those talks. However, things with Brogdon seem to be heating up. Fischer wrote:
"The Knicks have also been linked to Brogdon in recent days by league personnel. New York is known to have interest in trading up from the No. 11 pick, with a perceived target of Purdue combo guard Jaden Ivey. But if New York doesn’t jump up the lottery order—league executives don’t forecast such a deal—and determines it is out of the running for free agent-to-be Jalen Brunson, Brogdon has been mentioned as one of several potential backup options for the Knicks to plug their hole at starting point guard."
The draft is a little over a week away, so it’s looking like if the Knicks aren’t able to trade up to select Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, their backup plan is to pursue Brogdon via trade.
Brogdon’s signed with Indiana through 2024-25 before he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent that summer. He’s owed $22.6 million in 2022-23 and $22.5 million in 2023-24, 2024-25.
It’s up to New York’s front office to decipher if trading for Brogdon is worth it, especially given his injury history. The highest number of games that he’s played in a season happened during his rookie year when he played in 75 games.
The Knicks have a combination of players that they could throw in an offer for Brogdon, including Kemba Walker, Alec Burks, and Nerlens Noel. The question is, how much are the Pacers looking for in exchange for Brogdon? Julius Randle, maybe?
For now, the rumors are still rumors, but things are starting to get spicy. The draft will give more insight into the direction that New York is headed in, so we’ll have to wait and see, but it won’t be too much longer.
