The Washington Wizards acquired Malcolm Brogdon in the Deni Avdija trade. They focused on the two first-round draft picks, but Brogdon can be a veteran leader for this young team. He won Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 and his contract is expiring. Washington will try to move forward before the deadline.
The wizards are focused on talent development. Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly will all play key roles this season, and the franchise hopes they will be crucial pieces of their next contender. It will take time, but Washington is in no rush.
Having Brogdon as a leader early in the season and trading him at the deadline for more draft capital is the ideal scenario. This could quickly become a problem, and his contract complicates things even more. Brogdon could be stuck on the Wizards’ roster for the entire season.
The league’s new collective bargaining agreement has made life difficult for teams that have exceeded the salary cap. New restrictions limit what teams can do in trades and how they build their rosters. Those restrictions reduce the number of franchises able to acquire Brogdon, especially with his $22.5 million salary.
Nine teams are currently above the first tax tier, which prevents them from getting back more money than they send in a trade. Four of those teams are above the second tax tier and cannot accumulate contracts.
There are 12 other teams in the running for the first round, including the Mavericks and Warriors. Those two teams are just below and will have a tough time maneuvering before the deadline.
The Wizards will explore their options, but finding a trade could be difficult. Brogdon’s salary also limits his market if he gets a buyout.
Major League teams cannot buy out a player whose salary is higher than that of non-taxpaying mid-level players. Brogdon is well above that figure, and his market would be limited to 21 teams. Of those, the Clippers, Kings, Grizzlies, Pacers, Thunder, Magic and Cavaliers appear to be contenders.
This is a limited market with only one true title contender. If Oklahoma City decides not to add Brogdon to its young and talented roster, moving to a new team might not be worthwhile, especially if it means having to pay back his salary.
Brogdon has played fewer than 40 games in two of the last three years. This is a crucial season for the 31-year-old who must prove he can play 60-plus games and help his team win. Brogdon should have plenty of opportunities in Washington with the young talent developing around him. Staying on the field and making an impact could be the difference between getting a trade or not.
The Washington Wizards may not find a partner before the trade deadline, and Malcolm Brogdon may decide not to buy out his contract. They’ll keep the talented guard on their roster, but trading him for draft capital is ideal. Can they make the right move? Only time will tell.
