Indiana Pacers: Winners and losers from the Malcolm Brogdon trade

Indiana Pacers: Winners and losers from the Malcolm Brogdon trade

Winner: Marcus Smart

Pundits have pointed to Marcus Smart as far from the Boston Celtics’ ideal point guard to support their two cornerstones. His weaknesses do give that some credence, but his strengths, while veering away from the team’s actual needs, are crucial for their success. Any other take is wrong.

Fortunately for the Defensive Player of the League, adding Brogdon should prompt the Celtics to relegate him to a more capitalizing and less exacting role. Brogdon is not Chris Paul or even Haliburton, but utilizing him as a featured release valve for the offense should allow Smart to be a less predictable creator, giving him more time to focus on spot-up shooting and supplementary scoring rather than being cudgeled into a misplaced solo playmaking role.

Loser: Eastern Conference contenders

While the Celtics made the NBA Finals last season, many still have the Milwaukee Bucks atop their Eastern Conference and even league forecasts. However, after adding Brogdon and Gallinari, other contenders in the conference should be doing double or tiple duty.

Giannis Antetokounmpo alone negates any marginal advantages that Boston has, but the Milwaukee Bucks are not a deep team. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat as constructed are far from being as imposing as previous two. The Philadelphia 76ers should remain in the running, but their new Rockets DNA and ever-wavering health blurs them a tad.

The Brooklyn Nets are nearing a fire-sale to cap off one of the biggest fumbles in league history. The Atlanta Hawks’ addition of Dejounte Murray may not be enough to even vault them into contention. The Toronto Raptors are still a season away. Mirror for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Chicago Bulls are right in the middle—and will probably remain there.

As things current stand, the Boston is the team to beat in the East. Milwaukee is a close second, but the others will clearly be on the chase, one that could easily be a very arduous one.