How could Knicks execute a trade for point guard Malcolm Brogdon?
By Kramer Smith
#1: Why the Knicks would want Malcolm Brogdon
As we are all well aware, arguably the Knicks’ best point guard over the past decade was 39-year-old Jason Kidd or Rose in his second stint with the team. That right there is a fundamental issue for the franchise, one that they have not been able to find a solution for in recent years.
Quickley had some tremendous games at the end of last season, but a couple of months prior he had looked like a shell of the electric spark plug he was creating a resume of being.
It was enough to gain the support of many in New York that he should be the Knicks’ premier guard, but his inconsistency makes many wary of his longevity over an 82-game season.
Rose has been phenomenal in his second stint in New York, but Tom Thibodeau’s historic overuse and reliance on Rose sidelined him again with another ankle injury last season.
This was hopefully enough to show the Knicks the days with Rose logging 30+ minutes a night may be over, and he cannot be considered a long-term solution at the point guard position.
Brogdon has steadily continued to improve as a player, after being a sleeper winner of the Rookie of the Year award with the Milwaukee Bucks. The now 29-year-old guard would bring some increased veteran presence to a squad with a lot of young talent.
Although his three-point and scoring ability may not be as explosive as Quickley’s, he’s extremely serviceable from beyond the arc, shooting 38.8% in 2020. Brogdon has averaged over 15 points per game every season since 2018, most recently averaging 21.2 and 19.1 points in each of his last two seasons, respectively.
He’s a good playmaker, averaging over 5 assists per game every year since 2018, something that would take a lot of pressure off RJ Barrett as he looks to take another big leap next year.
He also competes on defense, something the Knicks prided themselves on during their 2021 playoff stint. Brogdon was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year in college.
The New York Knicks need a player like Malcolm Brogdon
New York desperately needs a true point guard, and Brogdon is that. He is a consistently good scorer, a solid playmaker, and a respectable defender, which is everything that a team covets in a starter. He is statistically an All-Star candidate and would spread the Knicks’ floor tremendously.
In several games this season fans saw an off-ball player as New York’s primary ball-handler. Imagine an offense where Barrett, Quickley, and Alec Burks could actually play to their strengths and be in the right spots.
Imagine the end of point-forward Julius Randle that lead to so many isolation post-ups that we fans grew to love so much!
With Brogdon, the Knicks would find their answer at point guard and could finally begin to develop at their other positions in the right way. He is less risky than another draft pick trial, and as good a player as you can get at the position. He is a tremendous upgrade for New York, no doubt.