Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Lakers potentially interested in Malcolm Brogdon

Malcolm Brogdon isn’t at the top of the Los Angeles Lakers’ wishlist, but they could reportedly have interest in the Milwaukee Bucks guard if they strike out elsewhere.

At this point, it’s unlikely there’s a Milwaukee Bucks fan out there that isn’t aware of just how competitive the market could be for re-signing Malcolm Brogdon when free agency opens on June 30.

The Chicago Bulls have been widely touted as a team who could be readying the kind of high value offer that may force the Bucks into a difficult decision on their restricted free agent, while there’s a variety of teams around the NBA who could obviously benefit from adding Brogdon to their roster.

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Now, another team has emerged as a potential player in the Brogdon sweepstakes, albeit one who may end up showing up late to this particular party.

Speaking on the Silver Screen and Roll Podcast, Marc Stein of the New York Times revealed that he’s head rumblings that the Lakers’ could pursue Brogdon if they strike out in their efforts with more high profile targets.

"“I know there’s been the big rumblings this week about D’Angelo Russell in the event the Nets end up renouncing him if the Nets get Kyrie. I’ve heard a rumble or two that don’t be surprised if (the Lakers) make a run at Brogdon as a restricted free agent.”"

Of course, Stein was also quick to point out that it would take a “really big offer sheet to convince Milwaukee not to match.”

This particular link is not all that surprising given the current makeup of the Lakers’ roster. As things stand, the Lakers desperately need quality guard play and elite shooting to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and Brogdon is one of the few players on the market who can offer both.

In fact, he may be the only player to fit that description who doesn’t end up fetching a max contract over the next 10 days or so.

From a Bucks’ perspective, any hints of ever expanding interest in Brogdon won’t make things any easier, but in this particular case it should be far from a cause for panic. Timing is going to be everything for the Bucks, and so many teams, once free agency opens. If Brogdon is a contingency for L.A., there’s a very good chance he could be off the board by the time they’re free to move on from higher profile targets.

For Milwaukee, the status of Brook Lopez, another rumored Lakers target, as an unrestricted free agent for whom the Bucks do not hold Bird rights ramps up the urgency in completing a deal with him once free agency opens. Lopez has to be signed into cap space, and once a deal is reached with him, the Bucks can then use Bird rights to go over the cap in re-signing Khris Middleton and Brogdon.

Still, agreements can be in place before signing officially takes place, and there’s no reason to believe the Bucks may not be proactive in offering their own deal to Brogdon in an attempt to get things wrapped up early. Even if it’s an offer sheet from elsewhere that ultimately proves to Brogdon’s liking and puts the Bucks on the clock to match, it’s much more likely that it will come from a team that places a greater emphasis on coming to terms with him early in the market.

The Lakers should well have their eye on Brogdon as a plan B, but the reality is he may be off the board or have agreed to another team’s offer sheet by the time the Lakers are finished trying to find a way to add Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker or D’Angelo Russell.