Why Malcolm Brogdon is the ideal Harden “replacement” for the 76ers
Since coming to the league in 2016, Malcolm Brogdon has been one of the steadiest role players in the league. An inflated role in Indiana puts an asterisk next to that, but paired with dominant star players, he’s one of those players who thrive with efficiency and consistency, especially from both guard positions.
His stint with the Boston Celtics last season proves just that. Operating as a super sixth man off the bench, Brogdon feasted on opposing second units with his efficient scoring and playmaking, logging 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in just 26 minutes per game on 48.4 percent shooting from the field, including an eye-popping 44.4 percent accuracy rate from downtown.
That scoring and passing boost will be tremendous for a Philadelphia bench currently dead-last in the league in points per game due to Nick Nurse concentrating the team’s offensive punch in the starting unit by design.
Aside from his obvious potential as a scorer and conductor off the bench, Brogdon can also be someone who can start games next to Tyrese Maxey. Nurse has been starting De’Anthony Melton so far, but Brogdon packs more offensive creation, shooting, and is not a slouch on defense either. It’s also worth mentioning that Kelly Oubre Jr. is expected to be sidelined for a significant amount of time due to an unfortunate accident.
Now, what are the downsides of this deal?