3 Milwaukee Bucks that could step up, replace Malcolm Brogdon
By Byron Jones
The Milwaukee Bucks took a blow losing budding star Malcolm Brogdon to free agency in the offseason. Who will step up and lay claim to the starting guard position he left vacant this year?
The Milwaukee Bucks had the best record in the NBA last year and reached 60 wins for the first time since 1980-81. This feat was largely due to the emergence of MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo as an unstoppable force on both ends of the court.
Coach Mike Budenholzer also made his presence felt, surrounding Giannis with perimeter shooters that allowed lanes for him to relentlessly attack the basket.
Malcolm Brogdon played a major role as a shifty combo guard who appeared calm, cool and collected every time he touched the floor. Good defensive skills while posting .505/.426/.928 shooting splits proved how rare a talent Brogdon has become in a short period of time. He is one of only eight players in NBA history to ever average a 50/40/90 slash line.
As Brogdon’s stock continued to rise, Milwaukee knew they would have to make some tough decisions in the off-season. If any team offered Brogdon a huge contract, bringing the core unit back intact would be close to impossible. This scenario came to reality when the Indiana Pacers offered a four-year, $85 million deal to the former Virginia Cavalier.
The Bucks ultimately agreed to sign-and-trade Brogdon for a first-round pick and two future second-round picks. No one wanted to see a beloved fan favorite and all-around good person leave for an Eastern Conference rival, but unpopular moves happen sometimes when trying to stay competitive in the NBA.
The task of naming Brogdon’s replacement wouldn’t require a rush to judgement as it offered new opportunities for an already deep roster. Summer League, training camp and preseason play should give us a much clearer vision of what the future holds for Milwaukee’s starting backcourt. Here are 3 players that could fill the gap Brogdon left behind.