Milwaukee needs to contemplate re-signing a free agent former Bucks star.
The Milwaukee Bucks appear to be on the hunt for more backcourt depth this summer, after opting to stretch-and-waive the final two seasons and $112.6 million owed to injured nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.
Milwaukee used the extra cap space to snag free agent 3-and-D center Myles Turner from Central Division rivals the Indiana Pacers, fresh off an NBA Finals run earlier this summer.
The Bucks have already brought back three of their own free agent guards, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., and Ryan Rollins, in addition to signing past-his-prime veteran shooting guard Gary Harris. The Bucks have also pushed back their decision to fully guarantee the 2025-26 contract of Andre Jackson Jr. until opening night, as they seek to cast a wide net for more veteran guard help.
Although rumors have emerged about the Bucks' potential interest in free agent former All-Stars Chris Paul and Bradley Beal, it might behoove Milwaukee need to contemplate re-signing a more familiar face.
Combo guard Malcolm Brogdon was a relatively unheralded pro prospect out of Virginia when Milwaukee took a flier on him with the No. 36 overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. He became the league's surprise Rookie of the Year, beating out fellow 2016 picks Brandon Ingram (the No. 2 pick), Jaylen Brown (No. 3), Jamal Murray (No. 7), Domantas Sabonis (No. 9), Pascal Siakam (No. 27), and Dejounte Murray (No. 29) — all future All-Stars.
The No. 1 selection that season, eventual three-time All-Star guard Ben Simmons, missed the entire year with after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot during a training camp scrimmage.
Brogdon impressed as an instant, NBA-ready two-way contributor on a playoff club in 2016-17, suiting up for a career-most 75 regular season games.
Health really has been the 6-foot-4 pro's problem.
He ditched the Bucks for the Pacers in the summer of 2019 through a lucrative four-year, $85 million sign-and-trade deal.
Injury issues limited his efficacy as a full-time starter in Indiana, and Brogdon was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2022-23. Brogdon was honored as that season's Sixth Man of the Year, but was flipped to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of Boston's 2023 summer deal for Jrue Holiday. For the Celtics, the deal was a no-brainer, and the Holiday upgrade helped put Boston over the top en route to the 2024 championship.
Brogdon was only available for 39 games with the tanking Trail Blazers in 2023-24, who moved his contract to another rebuilding squad, the Washington Wizards, for that team's ill-fated 2024-25 season.
In his six seasons away from the Bucks, Brogdon missed an average of 31.2 games a year. That has greatly depreciated his value, and makes the now-32-year-old something of a diamond in the rough.
He could probably be had for a veteran's minimum deal, and at that price would serve as a no-brainer acquisition.
Across just 24 games for Washington last season (13 starts), Brogdon averaged 12.7 points on .433/.286/.880 shooting splits, 4.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.5 steals a night in 23.5 minutes per. For his career, he's a 38.8% three-point shooter on 4.2 triple tries a night. Brogdon remains a solid passer and scorer, and — assuming the long range shooting bounces back — in a reduced role could have an outsized impact with his first NBA franchise.
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Category: Basketball
