Pacers Waiving Three Players Acquired in Malcolm Brogdon Trade

Of the five players the Pacers acquired in the Malcolm Brogdon trade, only Aaron Nesmith and Daniel Theis remain on their roster.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

It's been a busy Thursday for the Indiana Pacers. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133-million maximum offer sheet with Malcolm Brogdon's former team.

However, Wojnarowski also reports the expectation is the Suns match the most sizable offer sheet in NBA history. Phoenix has two days to do so.

So far, Suns haven't shown an interest in negotiating a sign-and-trade on Ayton with the Pacers, but the expectation remains that Phoenix will match the record-$133M offer sheet once it's signed, sources tell ESPN. Suns could trade Ayton as soon as Jan. 15 once sheet is matched.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

Still, the Pacers must create the necessary cap space to ink Ayton to this record offer sheet. To do so, Indiana will waive and stretch three players acquired in the deal that brought Brogdon to Boston, Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan, and Nik Stauskas, per Wojnarowski.

The Pacers are waiving guard Duane Washington and waiving and stretching the three players who arrived in the Boston trade for Malcolm Brogdon: Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and Nik Stauskas, sources tell ESPN. That'll create the cap space to sign Ayton to the max offer sheet.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2022

While hardly a surprise, that leaves Aaron Nesmith, who's suiting up for the Pacers at Summer League, and Daniel Theis as the lone players left on their roster from their deal with the Celtics. Of course, Indiana also acquired Boston's 2023 first-round pick in the transaction.

Further Reading

Brad Stevens Says He Has 'Green Light' from Ownership to Spend What It Takes to Win

Danilo Gallinari Discusses Turning Down More Lucrative Offers to Join Celtics

Malcolm Brogdon Discusses Dynamic Between He and Marcus Smart as Former Embraces Sixth-Man Role

Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari Prepared to Make Necessary Sacrifices to Win a Championship

Malcolm Brogdon Thought He Was Headed to Wizards Before Celtics Traded for Him

[Film Room] JD Davison's Mostly Positive Summer League Debut

How Will Celtics Round Out Their Roster?

With Thomas Bryant Off the Board, Here's Who the Celtics Might Add at Center

Should the Celtics Trade Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant?