Recently, the New York Knicks signed free-agent Malcolm Brogdon to a minimum contract despite the ongoing injury concerns on the former 6th Man of the Year. However, this move could turn out to be genius, if things go as planned. Otherwise, it could be catastrophic again for the East favorites.
To refresh everyone’s memory, the then Milwaukee Bucks’ freshman was actually the 2017 Rookie of the Year, winning it over future superstars like Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Domantas Sabonis. Since his rookie season, Brogdon has consistently put up double digits in scoring. His best year came in the 2020-2021 season, where he averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Pacers and almost got selected to the All-Star game.
A few years later, Brogdon would emerge as one of the deadliest threats off the bench after winning the 2023 6th Man of the Year award after averaging 14.9 points and shooting 44% from the three-point line as a backup point guard for the Boston Celtics.
The Knicks Got Brogdon for a Minimum, a Humongous Discount to His $22 Million Salary Last Year
Many people thought Brogdon would be out of the league after a disappointing run with the Washington Wizards last season. Despite getting more than $22 million, his numbers dipped significantly. In DC, Brogdon only averaged 12.7 points per game–the lowest he had in eight years, and shot a career-low 28.6% from three. Although this may largely be caused by his past injuries, the sudden drop in his production could be a mix of him not fitting in the right system and his age.
The Wizards clearly wanted him to lead the team; however, Brogdon hasn’t always been that type of player. He is a great scorer and a solid starter, but his best years were when he played second fiddle to legit stars. He won RoY behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, had his best year playing alongside Domantas Sabonis, and transitioned to become the league’s best bench player after winning the 6MoY as a second-stringer for the Brown-Tatum-led Celtics.
The Knicks taking Brogdon with a veteran minimum salary is a pivotal move for the team, considering that they’re getting him for a huge discount while also getting the player who they really need—the right backup for Jalen Brunson. Right now, he could share the floor with one of the league’s best rosters, featuring Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, and Guerschon Yabusele.
Brogdon is known for his high basketball IQ who is quite of a decent floor general, a good defender who can guard multiple positions, and an excellent shooter. Having him play when Brunson sits could allow the Knicks to keep their momentum and transition into a more stabilized offense, some of the things they failed to do in the 2025 playoffs. With Mike Brown taking over as head coach, New York’s 6–7-man rotation would finally be changed, especially with a good backup point guard in their hands who’s slightly better than Cameron Payne and Miles McBride.
The problem now is that the Knicks should find a way to clear some cap space to make room for Brogdon. In addition, the former Rookie of the Year is also having problems with durability and, of course, age, as he is now pushing 33, which could be an issue in the future. However, the reward still outweighs the risk. After all, they’re getting him for a fraction of the money he got last year.
Overall, Malcolm Brogdon could be an ideal fit in New York, and maybe the most genius move the Knicks did in the summer.
