The NBA's other 29 teams might have a gripe with the New York Knicks.
Just a few days into the NBA's offseason, it appears the Knicks have reset the trade market with their massive offer to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks traded five first-round picks, plus a pick swap, to land Bridges, an elite 3-and-D wing who fits perfectly within the Knicks.
The Knicks could justify the cost because they had a surplus of assets and because Bridges — although he's not an All-Star — is a seamless fit that makes the team better.
For the rest of the NBA, however, it seems to have made trading more difficult.
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto pointed to two examples in a recent story on trade rumors.
Scotto reports that Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen is a trade target for several teams, but that it will require a Bridges-like haul.
"The leaguewide belief is that the Jazz would only consider moving Markkanen for a sizable trade package similar to what the Knicks gave up to acquire Mikal Bridges," Scotto wrote.
He added that the Knicks "overwhelmed" the market with their offer for Bridges.
Yahoo's Jake Fischer also reported that the Jazz taking trade calls for Markkanen may be "an effort to solicit some kind of exorbitant offer akin" to the Knicks' trade for Bridges.
Scotto again referenced the Bridges trade while discussing the trade market for Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma.
"Given the recent trades of Mikal Bridges and Dejounte Murray, it would likely take multiple first-round picks for the Wizards to consider trading Kuzma, league sources told HoopsHype," Scotto wrote.
It's not the first time one single trade has set the market for the rest of the league. In the summer of 2022, the Timberwolves' trade for Rudy Gobert — which included four first-round picks and a pick swap — set an exorbitantly high price for other stars.
Over time, that price came down, as other valuable players were traded for less.
In a way, it's a move that could benefit the Knicks. Sure, they gave up a lot to land Bridges, but it may now also cost other teams a great deal to improve their roster, too.
