Rumors swirled around Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon at the 2024 trade deadline. Dealing the 31-year-old made sense at the time as he had one year left on his contract and didn't fit with the team's rebuilding timeline.
But general manager Joe Cronin held onto Brogdon for his veteran presence and ability to assist Scoot Henderson on and off the floor. Unfortunately, his lengthy injury history caught up with him and he missed most of the rest of the season with elbow tendonitis (and probably tanking syndrome).
Brogdon will surely exit Portland, though, whether that's this summer or before next year's trade deadline. He would be an attractive acquisition for several teams looking to upgrade their backcourt on both ends of the floor. Here are three likely destinations.
3 Trade destinations for Trail Blazers' Malcolm Brogdon
Milwaukee Bucks
It might be clearer now than at any other point this season: The Milwaukee Bucks need guard depth. More specifically, they need guards with size who can defend and knock down threes.
Without Damian Lillard, head coach Doc Rivers has been forced to go with some combination of Pat Beverley, Malik Beasley and Pat Connaughton with some Andre Jackson Jr. and A.J. Green thrown in against the Indiana Pacers. That's not going to cut it when it matters most in the playoffs.
Brogdon would be a sure-fire starter for the Bucks right now, giving the team a level of backcourt defense it doesn't have and frankly hasn't had all season. He was the 2017 Rookie of the Year with Milwaukee and a return trip to the Cream City would make sense for both parties.
New York Knicks
Another playoff team that Brogdon would make sense with. Jalen Brunson has become an All-NBA guard, but he's generously listed at 6 feet.
New York has rounded out its backcourt rotation with Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride and another former Blazer, Josh Hart. Adding Brogdon to that mix would give Knicks Head Coach Tom Thibodeau another guard who can defend and knock down open threes.
Malcolm would give New York another dimension with his playmaking ability. He could spell Brunson and still create open shots for DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby and others without missing a beat.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio will be a popular rumored destination for any guard who could provide stability for Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs have already been linked with Trae Young and a reunion with Dejounte Murray, but neither of the Atlanta Hawks guards make sense with Wemby. Anfernee Simons would be a good option, but Brogdon would come cheaper and with a lower usage rate.
He could provide the same veteran presence that he gave Portland last season, but he would be a much better on-court fit with Wembanyama as a point guard who can manage an offense, play in the pick-and-roll and spot up behind the 3-point line as an outlet when the French phenom gets doubled in the post.