Rumors of a reunion have been circulating for months, and although the free agency window has been open for Chris Paul to sign, he remains indecisive, still weighing the pros and cons between teams like the LA Clippers and the Phoenix Suns.
This long-awaited decision will pay dividends if Paul chooses to stay with the team that elevated his prime, but otherwise, the level of patience being held by the Clippers could lead to regret.
If Bradley Beal is signed using the mid-level exception, the Clippers will already be out of money, and if time is removed from the equation as well, a guard like Ben Simmons, who does not fit, could return, but for a full season.
Fortunately, there is another guard on the market, Malcolm Brogdon, who has valid credentials and experience, yet remains unsigned. This is because Paul leads the market, and the team that gets the short end of the stick could end up offering Brogdon the veteran minimum.
That said, Brogdon is the obvious backup option to Paul, but if signed, pain and suffering will be encountered, given his history in the NBA.
Malcolm Brogdon is clearly second on the LA Clippers' list of point guards behind Chris, which is troubling news
The LA Clippers had interest in trading for Malcolm Brogdon from the Boston Celtics in 2023, but ultimately dropped out, which allowed the Memphis Grizzlies to land Marcus Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, from the Boston Celtics.
This is the same logic the Clippers need to use this summer, as though time has passed, Brogdon's injury concern has not improved. In fact, it has steepened, given that he played 24 games this season, 2024-25, and 39 in the previous, 2023-24. The 2023 Sixth Man of the Year quite literally peaked as a rookie.
Now, Brogdon is seemingly never available, and in addition, his once-great efficiencies are starting to spiral downward. This season, he shot a career-low of 28.6% from three for the Washington Wizards, which is worrisome for someone who is known to shoot north of 35%.
Signing Brogdon on a veteran minimum is not a bad idea, but the Clippers must not rely on him to consistently produce and stay healthy in the second unit. This is almost guaranteed not to happen, and executive Lawrence Frank must check the facts before showing any further interest.