Milwaukee Bucks: Should an extension with Malcolm Brogdon be explored?

After a Rookie of the Year win in his first year, Malcolm Brogdon returned in the 2017-18 season with much fewer games played. Does he deserve a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks based on his production and recent struggles with injury?

Very few people, if any, expected Malcolm Brogdon to be a key contributor for the Milwaukee Bucks when he was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NBA draft.

Brogdon surprised all of those doubters by being a key part of the Bucks lineup in a very short period of time, though, even starting in 28 games.

As a rookie, Brogdon played 26.4 minutes per game, averaging 10.2 points while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three. The former Virginia Cavalier also carried over his college reputation of being an above average defender.

More from Bucks News

• Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
• Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
• Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
• Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
• New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited

In his sophomore season, Brogdon only played 48 games dues to a left quad tendon strain. Even though he missed nearly half the season, the 25-year-old showed signs of improvement, especially with the ball in his hands.

Brogdon provided a good scoring boost off of the Bucks bench, giving them 13 points per game on a very good 54.7 effective field goal percentage. His assists went down from his first year but that likely has something to do with him playing more frequently with a less talented bench squad, and occasionally having to share the floor with Eric Bledsoe.

Looking to the season ahead, Brogdon figures to be a key contributor at one of the guard positions again. More than likely, he will continue to start a lot of games on the bench as Tony Snell is a strong fit alongside the other Bucks starters, and the rotation could have better balance with Brogdon heading up the second unit.

With that in mind, it would not be surprising to see Brogdon take on a significant playmaking role for the bench squad, as he only averaged 1.4 turnovers per game.

Not only does Brogdon fit into the Bucks’ rotation very well, he also has the ability to switch his game up. The Atlanta native is able to play both point guard and shooting guard. He has proven he can handle the ball while running the offense, or spot-up behind the three-point line. Every aspect of Brogdon’s versatility should be utilized by Coach Budenholzer this upcoming season.

Looking at Brogdon’s overall fit and ability with this Bucks team, it should be a no-brainer for the franchise to do everything in their power to bring him back on a long-term deal. But will the Bucks have enough cap space to do it?

According to ESPN, the projected salary cap for the 2019-2020 season is approximately $109 million. Recently the NBA’s projections have been above the actual numbers when they come out but for argument’s sake we will keep it at $109 million.

The Bucks currently have $96,722,138 tied up but Khris Middleton will likely reject his $13 million player option, expecting to get more money than that on the open market. So, the Bucks would then have about $84 million tied up while still needing to re-sign Middleton, Brogdon, and potentially Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez.

After next season the Bucks should be contenders in the East. Obviously, the Bucks will do their best to give Middleton what he wants as he is a perfect piece to put next to Giannis. He will unquestionably command a pay rise, though, leaving the Bucks with financial challenges to iron out.

If they want to continue to improve their roster, considering fit and age profile, there’s a strong case to be made for the Bucks then re-signing Brogdon rather than trying to re-sign Bledsoe. In doing so, the Bucks could have to go into the luxury tax, or at the very least get very close to it.

Of course, another more pressing option for the Bucks would be to sign Brogdon to an early extension before the deadline for such deals on October 31.

Such a deal would be similar to that signed by Norman Powell of the Raptors, which will be set to kick in this year. Powell signed a four year, $42 million contract last year, while Brogdon would be eligible for a deal that could top out at four years, $46 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Brogdon would likely be more than happy to sign a deal like this and if he keeps improving the Bucks should be more than happy with having him tied up at that level of salary too.

The problems arise with this kind of deal for Brogdon when it comes to re-signing Middleton, or any other plans Milwaukee’s front office may have for next summer.

The Bucks would have a tough time fitting those two deals under the luxury tax alone, yet the timing of the deals also plays a significant factor in the number of options left open to a front office.

For the Bucks, Brogdon’s $1.9 million cap hold entering into next summer would likely be anything from $7-10 million less expensive if he was hitting the market as a restricted free agent, as opposed to already being signed to a new deal.

That difference is important if the Bucks want meaningful room to explore all options in free agency, and in potentially entering trade talks for other players.

By all accounts, the Bucks should approach Brogdon about the possibility of coming to terms on an early extension, but unless a deal presents for them that’s too good not to tie down now, they should be wary of acting too hastily.

Of course, this doesn’t mean the Bucks shouldn’t be looking to retain Brogdon, but they will have to remain mindful of the other deals they may be required to make before locking into a deal with him that could take all of their already limited flexibility away in an instant.

Bringing Brogdon back should be among the front office’s top priorities, but even if failing to reach a deal now comes at the risk of him commanding richer offer sheets next summer off the back of a strong season, the prospect of an early extension leaves Milwaukee with a tough balancing act that they can’t afford to get wrong.