According to Ian Begley of SNY, Malcolm Brogdon is an individual on the New York Knicks' radar. They have two roster open spots, but can only offer free agents minimum contracts. They reportedly extended such a proposal to Ben Simmons. However, it appears that he passed on that opportunity.
Brogdon won the 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year Award in his lone campaign with the Boston Celtics. He is still plenty productive. The six-foot-four guard averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 23.5 minutes of floor time for the Washington Wizards last season.
The problem centers around his durability. The nine-year veteran has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. He gave Boston an efficient offensive boost off the bench. Unfortunately, when the playoffs arrived, he suffered an arm injury that saw him go from a key contributor to someone the Celtics were better off not having on the hardwood.
Brogdon isn't to blame for his injuries. They aren't the result of poor conditioning or reckless play that must get reeled in. While undeserved, it is his reality. He appeared in 24 tilts last season and 39 the year before. In his final campaign with the Indiana Pacers, he played in 36 contests. The only time he suited up for more than 67 games was in his rookie year with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Why the Knicks may ignore Brogdon's durability concerns
New York isn't oblivious to the 32-year-old's track record. However, one reason the Knicks might not get deterred is his role in "The Big Apple." He would most likely be in the extended rotation, rather than a fixture in it. If that's the case, pacing him becomes much more manageable.
In that scenario, new head coach Mike Brown can feel optimistic about getting Brogdon's best in the playoffs. If he is getting appreciable minutes consistently in the regular season, then it's buyer beware. If navigating that circumstance, New York would be wise to give him scheduled rest days to help get through the upcoming campaign.
Brogdon turns 33 in December. Thinking he can duplicate his regular-season durability two years ago with the Celtics, then hold up in the playoffs, is an ill-advised approach.
It's reasonable to believe he can give Boston's rival more production than Simmons. However, to have those contributions when it matters most requires a well-calculated plan in the months leading up to that.