The Brooklyn Nets have decided to trade Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, where the small forward will join star player Jalen Brunson and his former Villanova teammates, according to multiple reports.
BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets have agreed in principle on a trade to send F Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick via Bucks, an unprotected pick swap and a second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/TEGsIpoa3b
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The Nets have effectively completed a major overhaul of their roster, considering that Bridges was their best player. Reports indicate that they have also landed a deal with the Houston Rockets to return the franchise’s first-round picks they lost in the James Harden trade.
The Knicks, meanwhile, will likely have to pay a large sum to acquire the 27-year-old. It is understood that they will be sending Bojan Bogdanovic to the Nets along with four unprotected first-round picks and one protected pick.
The Nets were already listening to offers from several teams for Mikal Bridges, but the player’s desire to play with his three former Villanova teammates and the fact that the Knicks’ status as a championship contender played a major role. The Knicks’ management is confident they can keep Bridges for the long-term, as this move represents a significant financial commitment for the franchise.
The Brooklyn Nets acquired Mikal Bridges from the Phoenix Suns along with Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks, and a 2028 first-round pick swap in exchange for Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren on February 9, 2023.
The 27-year-old was impressive on his move to the Nets, averaging 26.1 points for the remainder of the season and helped them reach the playoffs. The swingman averaged 19.6 points per game in the 2023/24 NBA season, but the Nets failed to make the postseason after slipping to a 32-50 win-loss record.
This is the first time since 1983 that the New York rivals have engaged in a trade when the Nets sent Len Elmore to the Knicks for a future draft pick.
This trade will certainly delight Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, considering that Bridges was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and is widely recognized as the league’s most durable player. He has led the league in minutes played in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 season and will no doubt look to team up with his former Villanova teammates next season.
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