It appears like Philadelphia is looking to sign a point guard.
The 76ers could make a big play for Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon this summer, according to a report from the Journal Times. Especially if sharpshooter JJ Redick leaves Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
Several NBA officials contend the 76ers will make the biggest play in free agency for Bucks Malcolm Brogdon, especially if Jonathan Redick bolts. New Orleans has shown an interest in the veteran sharpshooter. The Bulls are also Brogdon suitors.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) June 30, 2019
Brogdon, 26, has just finished the third year of his first NBA contract — a three-year deal worth just less than $4 million. However the 2017 Rookie of the Year could be approaching a big pay raise.
The Virginia product was a second-round pick in 2017, but has quickly become one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA. Brogdon joined the illustrious 50-40-90 club in 2018-19 while averaging career highs of 15.6 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Brogdon missed significant time dealing with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot last year and only played 64 games in the regular season. But he was an important contributor to Milwaukee's 60-22 record — which was good for the best mark in the Eastern Conference.
Brogdon checks all the boxes. He's a capable defender, has good length at 6-5 and can excel as a spot-up shooter alongside dominant post forces like Joel Embiid, similar to the way he did with the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 76ers are lacking depth at the guard spots, as Ben Simmons and Zhaire Smith are likely the only backcourt players locked in to be on Philadelphia's roster once its season-opener rolls around. But Smith saw limited action in 2018-19 after an unexpected allergic reaction sidelined him for a large portion of 2018-19.
Philadelphia fielded what was arguably the second-most talented starting five in the NBA last season, but if Butler, Tobias Harris and Redick move on, the team could look drastically different. Securing Brogdon would likely help the young team continue toward more success in the future.
Brogdon is a restricted free agent and Milwaukee has his Bird rights since they drafted him, meaning the Bucks can exceed the salary cap to keep him on board. Teams like New Orleans and Chicago could reportedly be willing to offer as much as $16 million per year, and the Bucks have already committed $70 million to Eric Bledsoe and have yet to pay 2019 All-Star wing Khris Middleton.
The 76ers finished third in the Eastern Conference in 2018-19 and lost to the eventual champion Raptors in a seven-game series in the second round of the playoffs. That could be hard to replicate given the amount of talented players they could be parting with this summer.