Former USC standout PJ Dozier to have new NBA home, reports say
Former Gamecock guard P.J. Dozier will be joining a new NBA team, according to reports from ESPN and others.
Dozier, who has been with the Denver Nuggets since 2019, was acquired by the Boston Celtics as part of a three-way deal between the Nuggets, Celtics and San Antonio Spurs, reports from Tuesday night said.
Dozier and Nuggets center Bol Bol were both sent to the Celtics in a deal that also sent Spurs guard Bryn Forbes to Denver and Celtics forward Juancho Hernangomez to the Spurs. The Spurs also acquired Denver’s 2028 second-round pick, protected Nos. 31-33, as well as $2.35 million in the trade.
The Denver Post and other media outlets also reported the transaction, which was not official as of Wednesday afternoon.
Dozier, 25, has been sidelined since suffering an ACL tear on Nov. 23 and will be out for the remainder of the season. Rotowire injury analyst Jeff Stotts said in a tweet that Dozier is the fourth player since the 2005-06 season to be traded while recovering from a torn ACL.
A native of Columbia, Dozier played two seasons at South Carolina (2015-2017) and played a key role in the Gamecocks’ 2017 Final Four run. He declared for the NBA draft in 2017 and went undrafted, eventually making his league debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018.
Dozier played locally at Spring Valley High School and was named a McDonald’s All-American and state of South Carolina Mr. Basketball in 2015.
He debuted with the Nuggets in January 2021, filling in for an injured Jamal Murray. His two-way contract was converted to a multi-year NBA contract last June after he played in a career-high 50 games in the 2020-21 season, starting in six.
Dozier is one of three former South Carolina players currently in the NBA. Anthony Gill (2011-12) currently plays for the Washington Wizards, and Chris Silva (2015-19) is with the Miami Heat on a 10-day contract. Hassani Gravett (2016-19) was recently with the Orlando Magic on a series of 10-day contracts.
