Former Pacers Star Linked to West Powerhouse in Free Agency

Aug 8, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren (1) celebrates with guard Malcolm Brogdon (7) and guard Victor Oladipo (4) after a play against the Los Angeles Lakers in a NBA basketball game at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images | Kim Klement-Imagn Images

An ex-Indiana Pacers star has been linked to a major Western Conference powerhouse in free agency.

Per Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer, former Indiana Pacers combo guard Malcolm Brogdon has been floated as a possible veteran signing for the Golden State Warriors.

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So far in free agency, Golden State hasn't made even a single move as it navigates the complicated plight of restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga.

"As we've reported previously, the Warriors want first-round draft capital and players that would either be in Steve Kerr's rotation and help Golden State compete for a championship behind Stephen Curry, behind Draymond Green, behind Jimmy Butler, or some real enticing, blue chip-type talent that would absolutely make the Warriors excited about the prospect of Jonathan Kuminga. Because they don't want to lose Jonathan Kuminga for nothing," Fischer said.

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"The Warriors' utmost goal is to compete for a championship, and there is without a doubt absolute benefit to Golden State having a rangy, 6-foot-8, 22-year-old, athletic, playmaking wing who is potentially [a] reinforcement if Draymond Green were to be injured, were to sustain another suspension," Fischer said. "The Warriors have been pretty consistent on the fact that they want Kuminga to sign a short-term deal."

Fischer explains that these protracted Kuminga negotiations have pause all other free agent business for a good Warriors team that, had Curry and Butler not been waylaid by injuries, could have given the Minnesota Timberwolves a real fight in the second round of the playoffs this past spring. The biggest non-Kuminga move that's expected in Golden State this summer is the signing of former five-time All-Star big man Al Horford, a free agent just a year after claiming his first-ever NBA title with the Boston Celtics.

Horford, 39, would be installed as Curry's first true floor-spacing starting-caliber center (unless Quentin Post truly develops). He'd join one of the league's oldest starting lineups, alongside 37-year-old Curry, 36-year-old Butler (when the season starts), and 35-year-old Green.

Free agent guards De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II have also been floated as possible returning pieces for Golden State, but Fischer observes that Brogdon might get a look, too.

At his peak, Brogdon has been better than both Melton and Payton. He's bigger than either player and a better set-up man. The Virginia product is also capable of scoring in bunches. His biggest drawback has been his health over the years.

The 32-year-old has only played more than 56 games three times in his nine-year pro career. Things have gotten really bad recently. The 6-foot-4 guard has been healthy for just 63 of a possible 164 total regular season contests across stints with the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards. Last season, he appeared in a scant 24 games for Washington.

During his three seasons with some chippy Pacers clubs, Brogdon averaged 18.9 points on .447/.352/.872 shooting splits, 6.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 steals a night. That iteration of Brogdon may be gone, but he could still give Golden State some useful veteran savvy on both sides of the ball in a bench role.

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