Brogdon in the Big Apple?

One day after adding Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews, the Knicks are reportedly also signing Malcolm Brogdon...

One day after adding Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews, the Knicks are reportedly also signing Malcolm Brogdon.

These multiple moves are somewhat surprising, considering New York is hard-capped at the second-apron this season. Because they are currently just $3.7 million below that limit, the Knicks can sign just one more veteran to a minimum contract.

According to SNY's Ian Begley, Brogdon, Shamet, and Matthews have all agreed to non-guaranteed contracts. This means that these three vets can all compete for New York’s final veteran-eligible roster spot. The Knicks can waive the other two before the start of the regular season without impacting their cap sheet.

Of course, the front office theoretically could create more space and an additional roster opening by making a trade.

However, before we dig into the cap dynamics and potential roster implications, a bit about Brogdon...

While injury issues and age are undeniable red flags, getting a player of this caliber on a non-guaranteed veteran minimum contract is terrific value. His resume is incredibly impressive.

During his last full season as a starter for the Pacers back in 2020-21, Brogdon averaged a career-high 21.2 points, 5.9 assists, a career-high 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 made three-pointers while shooting 39% from downtown and 87% from the charity stripe. The only other players in the NBA to match or exceed Brogdon's per-game averages in points, dimes, boards and treys that season were Steph Curry, Paul George, Luka Doncic and James Harden.

Brogdon has also been known as a PG who took care of the basketball. Over his three seasons in Indiana, Brogdon has averaged 6.3 assists vs. only 2.2 turnovers.

After being traded to Boston in July of 2022, Brogdon seamlessly shifted to the bench and embraced a reserve role. As a Celtic, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 48.4% from the floor, 44.4% from downtown and 87% from the free-throw stripe. Brogdon garnered plenty of praise from teammates and coaches alike during his year in Beantown for his ability to captain the ship for the second unit and facilitate the offense. He would go on to edge out Immanuel Quickley for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

At his best, Brogdon consistently puts pressure on opposing defenses by attacking the bucket with straight-line drives. Once he gets a foot into the paint, he can finish at the rim or in the mid-range, as well as kick out to open shooters. In his lone season with the Celtics, Brogdon averaged 11.3 drives per game (second most among all bench players). The following year in Portland, he boosted that up to 11.7 in just 27 minutes a night.

Brogdon wreaks havoc in pick-and-roll action, which could allow him to excel alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. As a Celtic, Brogdon averaged over 1.01 points per possession as the ball handler in pick-and-roll plays (the same PPP as Jalen Brunson).

Brogdon has also been lethal behind the arc. After shooting a career-high 44.4% from downtown in 2022-23, he was above 41% the following season as well.

Although he’s at his best when running point, Brogdon can also play off the ball. During his last relatively healthy season (2023-24), Brogdon led the league in catch-and-shoot three-point percentage, converting 59 of his 114 attempts (51.8%).

The question is, at 32, is he still capable of playing anywhere close to this efficiently and effectively? Last season with the Wizards, Brogdon appeared in only 32 games. He has dealt with recurring foot/ankle issues, as well as hamstring, knee, and thumb ailments. He has only played 60+ games in a season once since the 2018-19 season.

But, again, the Knicks aren’t taking a significant risk to find out. Signing him to a non-guaranteed pact is a low-cost lottery ticket. If Brogdon comes to camp in good shape and proves he is back in form, he could become a valuable backup point guard who will help energize the second unit while enabling Jalen Brunson to get extra rest during the regular season.

If not, New York can easily waive him and move on.

Having a new head coach who is happy to deploy a deep rotation is likely one reason why the front office is pleased to bring in as many quality players as possible.

Looking at the big picture, it is remarkable that multiple respected veterans are willing to come to New York on non-guaranteed contracts just for a chance to compete for a roster spot. That says a great deal about how far the franchise has come in recent years under Leon Rose and the current front office.

The Knicks used to have to scrape the bottom of the barrel and shop in the discount department. Now that Brunson and Company have established the Knicks as legitimate contenders, they get to pick and choose from several enticing options.