Veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon is an unrestricted free agent and is not expected to return to the Washington Wizards, per Grant Aseth of RG. Org. The 6-4 combo guard is expected to garner attention from several teams.
Malcolm Brogdon Expected To Find New Home, 4 Potential Landing Spots
It is no surprise that Brogdon will not be returning to Washington, as he appeared in only 24 games for the Wizards and earned $22.5 million last year. The Wizards acquired Brogdon and Bub Carrington from Portland last July for Deni Avdija. The Wizards also received a 2028 second-round pick (via Golden State), a 2029 first-round pick (Portland), and a 2030 second-round pick (Portland).
Still, Brogdon was productive in his limited time with the Wizards. He averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds with shooting splits of 43.3/28.6/88 in 24 minutes.
While Brogdon has struggled with staying healthy over the past two years, appearing in just 61 games during that time, he has still been a valuable contributor and a positive presence in the locker room. It is no wonder he has been linked to several teams.
Brogdon is a scoring guard with a reputation as a skilled shot-maker. Brogdon’s efficiency has dropped over the last few seasons, in part due to injuries, but the 2022-23 NBA Sixth Man of the Year has shown that he is still a good shooter and ball-handler. He has connected on at least 45% of his shots in each of his NBA seasons in which he has appeared in at least 40 games.
Brogdon is a three-level scorer and is solid off the catch, though he is at his best when he gets into the teeth of the defense and creates. Brogdon is a solid distributor who doesn’t turn the ball over. He has a career 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Defensively, Brogdon is good on the perimeter and a decent on-ball defender. He has also played for the Milwaukee Brewers, the Indiana Pacers, and the Boston Celtics.
Looking At Potential Landing Spots For Malcolm Brogdon
Brogdon will not make anywhere close to the $20+ million he has earned over the last several seasons. However, he will likely command at least a significant portion of the mid-level exception from a team (around $10 million).
Dallas Mavericks:
Dallas needs another guard to offset the injury to Kyrie Irving, who will be out until at least the new year. Afseth said that the Mavericks are one of the teams monitoring Brogdon as he will officially hit the open market on July 1.
The Mavericks are facing a financial crunch this summer, especially with the expected addition of No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. However, the Mavs could garner enough cap room to stay under the second apron if Irving renegotiates his deal and they waive Brandon Williams. The Mavs have also been linked to Utah’s Collin Sexton.
Milwaukee Bucks
Like the Mavericks, Milwaukee will likely be in the market for a point guard with Damian Lillard expected to miss a good portion of the 2025-26 campaign due to a torn Achilles Tendon. With Ryan Rollins and Gary Trent Jr. slated to become free agents and Lillard’s injury, the Bucks are shorthanded in the backcourt. Particularly at point guard. Kevin Porter Jr. and Andre Jackson Jr. are the only players with true capability to be a lead guard.
Milwaukee is over $20 million under the luxury tax with 12 players under contract. The Bucks have five free agents, and Bobby Portis and Porter own player options.
“Rival teams suspect the Bucks will end up in the tax but keep their payroll below the $196 million first apron, which would open their ability to access more of the $14 million midlevel exception,” ESPN duo of Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst wrote. “They might need a large chunk of it for a starting point guard in place of Lillard, with the candidates including free agents such as Dennis Schroder, Tyus Jones, and Malcolm Brogdon.”
Sacramento Kings
Following new team president Scott Perry’s emphasis on Sacramento’s need for improved playmaking during his introductory press conference, the Kings are expected to upgrade their backcourt. According to Jake Fisher of The Stein Line, the Kings have been linked to Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart, and Brogdon.
Sacramento has four of the league’s top scorers. However, Sacramento’s backcourt struggled to create offense following the trade of De’Aaron Fox, as they finished 20th in the league in assists and near the middle of the pack in turnovers. Following the All-Star break, Sacramento point guards were one of the worst in the league, averaging 5.6 assists compared to 3.0 turnovers.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers could use depth in the backcourt. Assuming James Harden opts into his player option, the Clippers have 12 players under contract with plenty of room under the luxury tax.
“I would consider Brogdon a primary target for the Clippers,” The Athletic’s Law Murray said on The Third Apron. “They almost traded (for him previously). I think if Brogdon would have been a buyout guy, I think the Clippers would have considered him along with Ben Simmons.”
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