[Trending News] Former Sixth Man of the Year could elevate a contending team

Malcolm Brogdon has spent the last 18 months operating as a veteran presence on rebuilding teams. He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers after winning the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year award with the Boston Celtics. This summer, he was traded to the Washington Wizards.

Brogdon, 32, is still a multi-talented guard. However, a career blighted by injuries has left his value in tatters. Teams are reluctant to hitch their wagon to him as they worry about his ability to stay healthy.

However, it appears that the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers are interested in rolling the dice ahead of the NBA trade deadline (Thursday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. ET).

“The Lakers and Clippers had Malcolm Brogdon on their radar last month. It’s unknown how Brogdon’s injury affects their interest,” SNY’s Ian Begley reported on Tuesday. “Brogdon has been out with a foot injury.”

When healthy, Brogdon is still a reliable ball-handler, especially when working with a second unit. He can score across all three levels, defend multiple positions and provide some help on the glass. Both the Lakers and Clippers have hopes of a deep postseason run, which Brogdon could undoubtedly help with.

The idea for either Los Angeles team would be to follow the Celtics’ playbook for Brogdon. That means sitting him on one end of back-to-backs and limiting his minutes to somewhere between 20 and 25 per night.

Adding a high-level ball-handler with experience going deep into the playoffs is never a bad idea. JJ Redick needs some additional guards who can work off the ball and make smart decisions. Brogdon has also proved himself capable of coexisting with elite forwards, which would make him a logical fit next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic or Kawhi Leonard.

Brogdon will always have a question mark over his head. However, winning a championship involves taking risks, as does building a contending-level roster. Fortunately for any interested team, Brogdon is in the final year of his two-year, $45 million contract. So, if his partnership with a new franchise doesn’t work out, they can cut bait in the summer.

Adding the veteran guard is a low-risk, high-reward dice roll. Considering the way this trade deadline is shaping up, a move for Brogdon wouldn’t be too wild of an idea.