Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon will head into the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Given the capability of the 32-year-old veteran, it is expected that he will demand some attention as well.
Brogdon had a fairly solid campaign with the Wizards last season. Although Washington was the worst team in the league, the guard notched an average of 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, respectable numbers for someone coming off the bench.
While Brogdon is an increasingly reliable presence on the floor, both on offense and defense, his inconsistent availability owing to injuries makes him a liability. After missing a large part of the season early, Brogdon played only 24 games before succumbing to injury again in February.
Needless to say, this has put a damper on his ability to grow and settle into a team. But when healthy, he still has enough potential to be a key asset off the bench for a title contender.
With this in mind, we take a look at five contenders who could make use of the 32-year-old on their roster.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers will be a team looking to make some major changes heading into the offseason. After being eliminated in the first round, on the back of a grueling seven-game series, the Clippers were made aware of their shortcomings.
Featuring a core of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Los Angeles has two immensely talented superstars running the show. With a capable third option in Norman Powell slotting in behind them, the team has all the right pieces in their starting lineup. This is where the problems begin.
The dropoff in talent, especially in the backcourt, after Harden goes to the bench is immense. With a severe lack of creativity in the playmaking department, the Clippers will be looking to add backcourt depth in the form of a backup point guard. Brogdon could be a great addition in this regard.
The 32-year-old is a solid defensive presence who also provides reliable playmaking and scoring. Given LA's small title window, a veteran point guard of Brogdon's repertoire could be one of the pieces in completing their title picture.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have been one of the most enigmatic teams in the NBA since being eliminated in the ECF - and not in a good way. Since firing Tom Thibodeau, it looks the Knicks have effectively sounded the alarms, signaling major personnel changes moving forward.
While players such as Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are likely to stay, the same cannot be said for other players on the roster. Thus, the Knicks may look to sign Brogdon, primarily as a rotation piece, and for insurance in case a key starter gets injured during the regular season.
Brogdon's two-way potential makes him reliable enough to play in the starting role as well. A potential defensive pairing of Brogdon, Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges would be menacing.
Unfortunately, Brogdon's addition to the rotation would also mean that the Knicks would have to sacrifice on size. This could leave them vulnerable on the rebounding glass.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers saw a massive turnaround in their season after making the playoffs. While being one of the best teams in the NBA for a large part of the regular season, the wheels completely came off for the Cavs, as they made a second round exit in the second round.
Much of the Cavs' postseason failures could be attributed to injury issues. From Darius Garland in the backcourt to Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter in the frontcourt, Cleveland took hits from every direction.
Heading into the offseason, the Cavs are likely to make some roster changes. But there exists a need to address the extended absence of Garland, who recently underwent surgery and will be out for at least five months.
With the point guard department seeing vacancies on the roster, the Cavaliers could benefit from signing Brogdon on a minimum deal. As a backup playmaker and secondary defender, the 32-year-old could shore up the backcourt rotation until Garland recovers and returns to the floor.
Milwaukee Bucks
In a similar situation to the Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks also found themselves crashing out of the playoffs in the first round. The subsequent array of rumors has seen Milwaukee in a state of absolute disarray, with effectively no certainty heading forward.
The Bucks made a solid climb up the Eastern Conference ladder after a horrendous start to the regular season. Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Milwaukee eventually secured the third seed. Unfortunately, tragedy struck as Lillard tore his ACL, another injury that would sideline him for an extended period.
Lillard's absence is a massive blow to Milwaukee, a team already dealing with the media storm surrounding Antetokounmpo's trade rumor arc. But given their need to form a cohesive unit until their star guard is healthy again, the Bucks could take a flyer on Brogdon.
Brogdon's career began in Milwaukee as well. It would be quite poetic for the 32-year-old to head back to help the organization. Slotting in as the starter, in the absence of any major moves, the former ROTY could certainly be a contributor to the team if he remains healthy.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks may not be considered title contenders in the traditional sense. But their roster, on paper, certainly boasts a formidable unit for the upcoming season.
Led by Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, the Mavs feature an incredibly potent star duo. With Irving's offensive mastery paired with Davis' versatility on both ends of the floor, Dallas could possess one of the finest one-two punches in the league.
Unfortunately, Irving's injury will see him sidelined, at least till January. With the lack of a dynamic point guard, the Mavs' next best option is to have a playmaking point guard, and given their underwhelming guard depth, the organization would do well to attempt signing Brogdon in free agency.
While it is quite unlikely for Brogdon to recreate Irving's impact, his skill as a playmaker could help facilitate easier baskets for Anthony Davis. Additionally, with the potential arrival of Cooper Flagg, the 32-year-old may find himself in a position where the scoring load doesn't fall on his shoulders at all. This would allow him to focus on on-ball defense and playmaking until Irving's return.
Signing Brogdon Is A Risk
As positive as the upside for signing Malcolm Brogdon is, it is very difficult to overlook the risks associated with it. Having been in the NBA for nine seasons, the guard has yet to play a complete season with 82 games.
Considering that the closest he came to a complete season was 75 games in his rookie year, it is a risk to pick up Brogdon's contract. But, should he remain healthy, he has shown the ability to be productive even when given extremely limited minutes, making him a high-risk, high-reward kind of asset.
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