Indiana Pacers Receive: F Rui Hachimura, G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, WAS 2022 1st Round Pick (Rights To On Draft Night)
Washington Wizards Receive: G Malcolm Brogdon, PHX 2022 2nd Round Pick (Rights To On Draft Night, via IND)
Should Malcolm Brogdon be traded in the offseason, this will likely be a deal that is made either right before the 2022 NBA Draft or during it, as the Indiana Pacers will be looking to capitalize on their chances to acquire young, high-level prospects in the first round.
This deal above between the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards is a scenario of a draft-night trade, as the rights to picks in the 2022 NBA Draft would be swapped, including Washington’s first-round pick, which is projected to be a lottery pick.
The Wizards could offer up a young forward like Kyle Kuzma, who could draw interest from the Pacers given the success he had this season, but it is much more likely that the Wizards will look to move Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in any deal they make.
The 29-year-old wing is going to be entering the final year of his contract and is set to make $14 million, making him a prime trade asset that the Washington Wizards have to free up cap space for a player like Malcolm Brogdon.
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Rui Hachimura would also be going to Indiana in this deal, as he will be entering the final year of his rookie contract and may see his role diminish in Washington moving forward with the emergence of both Kyle Kuzma and Deni Avdija.
The Indiana Pacers would have no need for a veteran like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, as they are rebuilding, but acquiring him would be a “salary dump move,” freeing up $14 million heading into the following offseason.
Better yet, the Pacers could potentially look to flip Caldwell-Pope midseason around the trade deadline for a draft pick or two, saving them money while also acquiring future assets as well.
Continuing to build their young core must be a goal of the Pacers in the offseason, hence why Rui Hachimura could fit right into their system as a stretch frontcourt talent.
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With Myles Turner’s future also uncertain, adding more frontcourt help could interest the Indiana Pacers.
