Malcolm Brogdon
If the Utah Jazz are unable to nab Khris Middleton, they would do well to pivot to a player not far removed from him in his teammate Malcolm Brogdon. Just like D’Angelo Russell, Brogdon is set to be a restricted free agent, meaning Milwaukee will have the ultimate say in whether he’s retained or not.
That said, things could get messy for the Bucks in a hurry as they juggle keeping their core intact that’s rapidly becoming more expensive than they can afford and attempting to add more talent to their ranks. No matter how you look at it, there’s definitely ample scenarios where one or more of Milwaukee’s key players ends up being forced to find a new home, and that player could very well be Brogdon.
And while he’s no Middleton, he’s also far from a mere consolation prize. The former Rookie of the Year continues to do great things for the Bucks as he’s putting up nearly 16 points per game on incredible shooting splits of 50.7 percent from the field, 43 percent from deep and, for good measure, 92.8 percent from the free throw line.
Malcolm’s efficiency would be a heaven-sent for a Jazz team that often struggles in that regard and his combo guard abilities alongside Donovan Mitchell would make for a nice pairing that would likely bring out both of their strengths. There’s simply so much to like about Brogdon, from his smart shot selection to his defense to his overall focus and execution. Bringing him into the Jazz ranks would be nothing but positive.
He won’t be easy to pry away, but the Bucks’ hands are going to be somewhat tied this summer, especially if they look to make further changes. I’d be absolutely ecstatic if Utah were able to add a player of his caliber to their midst.