Mikal Bridges has been traded. First bomb in the marketplace, with the Knicks buying the star of the Brooklyn Nets, Jordi Fernández’s staff. In alternate they’ve despatched Bojan Bogdanovic and have overpaid rounds of the draft: 4 unprotected first rounds (2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031), a 2025 protected through Milwaukee, an unprotected 2028 commerce and the 2025 second spherical. The Knicks additionally take a 2026 second spherical decide from the Nets to shut the switch that opens the motion market within the NBA simply 48 hours earlier than the draft arrives. A switch that leaves doubts on the courtroom, however off it there is no such thing as a mistake.
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo had been one of many sensations of the yr. They led New York to the convention semifinals and solely accidents to nearly half of the squad prevented them from sneaking into the Jap finals in opposition to Boston. The three gamers, teammates at Villanova College, had been key. And earlier than free company opens, the Knicks get the fourth piece from the 2016 Wildcats: Mikal Bridges. Collectively they had been nationwide champions in 2016 (Brunson, Bridges and DiVincenzo gained a second in 2018) and the previous Nets participant reunites together with his mates within the Massive Apple with the aim of taking the Knicks to the following stage. The right switch to struggle Boston.
And Bridges himself was essential in closing the switch. In response to a number of sources, the participant made his want to play for the Knicks clear to the franchise. whether or not through motion or in free company in 2027, in two summers. The Nets have accepted the participant’s requests, however in alternate they’ve taken a large loot from New York, a suggestion that can’t be rejected and much superior to what Houston or Utah placed on the desk.
Bridges, who got here to the Nets from Phoenix within the Kevin Durant transfer, He turns into one of many highest worth gamers with these 5 rounds and a commerce, a value just like what the Suns paid for KD. In his yr and a half in Brooklyn, and 109 video games, he has averaged 21.2 factors with 4.5 rebounds and three.4 assists, though he did exceed 26 factors within the 27 video games he performed after being traded in February 2022. At 27 years outdated, he added 474 consecutive video games to start out his profession and He’s a defensive specialist, a profile which may be too just like OG Anunoby, an important free agent the Knicks have.
Because of the new collective settlement, by receiving more cash than they ship, the New York franchise is now lined by the bills they could have this yr, and The renewals of Anunoby and German heart Isaiah Hartenstein are nonetheless pending. And until they handle to launch salaries within the coming days, in names like Mitchell Robinson or Julius Randle, plainly Hartenstein has already performed his final minutes with the Madison Sq. Backyard franchise. Though the Knicks administration can at all times shock, because it has been doing for the final two years, and handle to discover a technique to preserve nearly all of the essential gamers from final season. As a result of it is not going to be New York’s final transfer in any respect if it desires to struggle for the ring.
