The Indiana Pacers replaced Bogdanovic with Brogdon – did they upgrade?
While both Malcolm Brogdon and Bojan Bogdanovic have stepped up their games in 2019-20 with new teams, and both could be mentioned as part of the candidate pool for NBA’s Most Improved, let’s take a minute to look at what Indiana gave up and what Indiana gained in their summer moves:
| BOJAN BOGDANOVIC | MALCOLM BROGDON |
| Games played: 18 | Games played: 15 |
| 22.1 points | 18.8 points |
| 4.4 rebounds | 4.9 rebounds |
| 2.2 assists | 8.1 assists |
| Shooting percentage: 48.8 | Shooting percentage: 46.9 |
| Three point percentage: 46.8 | Three point percentage: 31.7 |
| FT percentage: 87.8 | FT percentage: 96.3 |
| High Game: 33 (twice – MEM, MIL) | High Game: 31 (CHA) |
Brogdon’s minutes are up this season, despite an injury that sat him out for three games. He’s averaging 6.1 points per game above his career average (all three prior seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks), averaging 1.3 more rebounds and clearing four more assists per game than his three seasons with the Bucks, his first in which he netted the Rookie of the Year award.
Brogdon was brought on board for his experience, with the hopes of replacing the experience and production of Victor Oladipo in the short term. Oladipo, in 2018-19, before going down with his injury, averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists through 36 games.
Brogdon is leading the Pacers at 19.4 ppg currently, and assists at 7.9 a game, despite missing the aforementioned three games. If he continues to improve season after season, I could see him being worth the $20M per he’s getting this year, if not more, though the Pacers have first dibs.
Bogdanovic took awhile to catch on, traveling through Brooklyn (nee New Jersey), Washington, and Indiana before moving on to Utah as a free agent last summer. Through 18 games as a member of the Utah Jazz, Boji has also upped his career numbers by 8.4 points per game, one rebound, and 0.8 assists. The Pacers took a hit in losing Bogdanovic, along with Wesley Matthews, who is admittedly underperforming in Milwaukee.
Who got the best in this mix?
I’m going with Utah snagging Bogdanovic, though I’m still rooting for Brogdon when it comes to ‘Most Improved.’
It’s looking like Luka Doncic may have that one wrapped up already. I’ve got Brogdon third behind Doncic and Anthony Davis, in that order.
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SATURDAY’S GAMES
| Denver Nuggets (13-4) | 97 |
| Sacramento Kings (8-10) | 100 (OT) |
Denver
- Gary Harris: 25 points – three rebounds – one assist – three steals – two blocks
- Jamal Murray: 15 points – four rebounds – six assists – two steals
- Will Barton: 14 points – 12 rebounds – five assists – two steals
Sacramento
- Harrison Barnes: 30 points – five rebounds – one assist – two steals
- Buddy Hield: 21 points – three rebounds – seven assists – two steals – one block
- Richaun Holmes: 13 points – 10 rebounds – two assists – one steal – one block
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| Indiana Pacers (12-7) | 116 |
| Philadelphia 76ers (14-6) | 119 |
Indiana
- T.J. Warren: 29 points – four rebounds – one assist – one steal
- Malcolm Brogdon: 28 points – four rebounds – six assists – one steal
- Jeremy Lamb: 15 points – four rebounds – five assists – one steal – one block
Philadelphia
- Joel Embiid: 32 points – 11 rebounds – four assists – two steals – one block
- #VFL Tobias Harris: 22 points – four rebounds – two assists – one block
- Ben Simmons: 15 points – six rebounds – 13 assists – four steals – one block
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| Atlanta Hawks (4-16) | 111 |
| Houston Rockets (13-6) | 158 |
Atlanta
- Trae Young: 37 points – three rebounds – seven assists
- De’Andre Hunter: 14 points – five rebounds – one assist – one steal
- Alex Len: 12 points – one rebound – 0 assists
Houston
- James Harden: 60 points – eight rebounds – eight assists – three steals – one block
- Ben McLemore: 24 points – 13 rebounds – one assist – one steal
- Chris Clemons: 16 points – 0 rebounds – 0 assists
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| Charlotte Hornets (8-13) | 96 |
| Milwaukee Bucks (17-3) | 137 |
Charlotte
- Devonte’ Graham: 24 points – four rebounds – five assists
- Terry Rozier: 19 points – six rebounds – two assists – two steals
- Miles Bridges: 15 points – eight rebounds – two assists
Milwaukee
- Giannis Antetokuonmpo: 26 points – nine rebounds – four assists – one steal
- Khris Middleton: 15 points – four rebounds – three assists – one steal
- Wesley Matthews: 14 points – three rebounds – 0 assists
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SUNDAY’S GAMES
| Miami Heat (14-5) | 109 |
| Brooklyn Nets (10-10) | 106 |
Miami
- Goran Dragic: 24 points – two rebounds – six assists
- Jimmy Butler: 20 points – seven rebounds – two assists – one steal – one block
- Bam Adebayo: 17 points – six rebounds – one assist – one steal – one block
Brooklyn
- Spencer Dinwiddie: 29 points – six rebounds – four assists – one steal – one block
- Joe Harris: 25 points – four rebounds – one assist
- DeAndre Jordan: 15 points – eight rebounds – two assists – one steal
| Memphis Grizzlies (6-13) | 115 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves (10-9) | 107 |
Memphis
- Dillon Brooks: 26 points – two rebounds – three assists
- Grayson Allen: 13 points – five rebounds – 0 assists – one steal
- Bruno Cabloco: 12 points – 13 rebounds – one assist – three steals
Minnesota
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 points – 12 rebounds – five assists
- Andrew Wiggins: 18 points – six rebounds – seven assists – one steal – two blocks
- Jarrett Culver: 14 points – seven rebounds – one assist – one steal
| Boston Celtics (14-5) | 113 |
| New York Knicks (4-16) | 104 |
Boston
- Jayson Tatum: 30 points – six rebounds – seven assists – two steals – two blocks
- Jaylen Brown: 28 points – five rebounds – one assist – one steal – one block
- Kemba Walker: 16 points – five rebounds – 10 assists – one steal
New York
- Julius Randle: 26 points – five rebounds – two assists
- Dennis Smith, Jr.: 17 points – one rebound – seven assists – two blocks
- R.J. Barrett: 16 points – seven rebounds – 0 assists – one steal – one block
| Dallas Mavericks (13-6) | 114 |
| Los Angeles Lakers (17-3) | 100 |
Dallas
- Luka Doncic: 27 points – nine rebounds – 10 assists – three steals
- Delon Wright: 17 points – five rebounds – nine assists – four steals
- Dwight Powell: 15 points – nine rebounds – 0 assists – one steal
Los Angeles
- Anthony Davis: 27 points – 10 rebounds – two assists – one steal – two blocks
- LeBron James: 25 points – nine rebounds – eight assists – four steals
- Alex Caruso: 10 points – four rebounds – one assist
| Oklahoma City Thunder (8-11) | 107 |
| New Orleans Pelicans (6-14) | 104 |
Oklahoma City
- Danilo Gallinari: 23 points – 11 rebounds – three assists
- Steven Adams: 17 points – 10 rebounds – two assists – one steal – two blocks
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 17 points – nine rebounds – two assists – one steal
New Orleans
- Jrue Holiday: 26 points – three rebounds – four assists
- Brandon Ingram: 20 points – seven rebounds – four assists – two blocks
- Lonzo Ball: 14 points – four rebounds – seven assists – one block
| San Antonio Spurs (7-14) | 98 |
| Detroit Pistons (7-13) | 132 |
San Antonio
- DeMar DeRozan: 20 points – four rebounds – two assists – one steal
- Lonnie Walker IV: 13 points – two rebounds – two assists – one steal
- Rudy Gay: 12 points – three rebounds – 0 assists – one steal – two blocks
Detroit
- Christian Wood: 28 points – 10 rebounds – two assists – one steal – one block
- Luke Kennard: 20 points – four rebounds – three assists
- Bruce Brown, Jr.: 13 points – seven rebounds – three assists
| Golden State Warriors (4-17) | 96 |
| Orlando Magic (8-11) | 100 |
Golden State
- Glenn Robinson III: 19 points – three rebounds – one assist – one block
- Eric Paschall: 17 points – six rebounds – two assists
- Alec Burks: 15 points – five rebounds – three assists – three steals
Orlando
- Evan Fournier: 32 points – three rebounds – 0 assists – one steal
- Terrence Ross: 19 points – four rebounds – one assist – one steal – one block
- Jonathan Isaac: 14 points – 11 rebounds – 0 assists – one steal – five blocks
| Utah Jazz (12-8) | 110 |
| Toronto Raptors (15-4) | 130 |
Utah
- Mike Conley: 20 points – three rebounds – two assists – one block
- Jeff Green: 198 points – three rebounds – 0 assists – two steals
- Donovan Mitchell: 16 points – one rebound – four assists – one steal
Toronto
- Pascal Siakam: 35 points – five rebounds – five assists – two steals
- Fred VanVleet: 25 points – five rebounds – 11 assists – one steal
- Norman Powell: 15 points – five rebounds – three assists – four steals
| Washington Wizards (6-12) | 125 |
| Los Angeles Clippers (15-6) | 150 |
Washington
- Rui Hachimura: 30 points – nine rebounds – three assists – one steal
- Bradley Beal: 23 points – five rebounds – 11 assists – two steals
- Davis Bertans: 20 points – four rebounds – one assist – two steals – one block
Los Angeles
- Kawhi Leonard: 34 points – six rebounds – three assists – one steal
- Paul George: 31 points – eight rebounds – one assist – one block
- Montrezl Harrell: 23 points – 15 rebounds – one assist – one steal – one block
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| WESTERN CONFERENCE | EASTERN CONFERENCE |
| Los Angeles Lakers (17-3) .850 | Milwaukee Bucks (17-3) .850 |
| Denver Nuggets (13-4) .765 | Toronto Raptors (15-4) .789 |
| Los Angeles Clippers (15-6) .714 | Miami Heat (14-5) .737 |
| Dallas Mavericks (13-6) .684 | Boston Celtics (14-5) .737 |
| Houston Rockets (13-6) .684 | Philadelphia 76ers (14-6) .700 |
| Utah Jazz (12-8) .600 | Indiana Pacers (12-7) .632 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves (10-9) .526 | Brooklyn Nets (10-10) .500 |
| Phoenix Suns (8-10) .444 | Orlando Magic (8-11) .421 |
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The Rundown w/T-Money is a daily column “all things NBA” that will run through the entirety of the season, and the playoffs through the NBA Finals
Tracy Graven is a Senior Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA for the last two decades and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 20 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, and Oklahoma City.
He currently lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife and five children.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia
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