There may be some hope that the New York Knicks can land Mikal Bridges in a trade, after all.
The Brooklyn Nets guard/forward has often been considered the perfect fit for the Knicks, but there have been major doubts that the Nets would ever deal him to the Knicks. The two teams haven't traded since 1983 and have had (at times) a heated rivalry.
For the Nets, losing a key player that they reportedly view as a building block to their crosstown rivals might be too painful.
Multiple reports have indicated that the Nets have rebuffed trade offers for Bridges.
However, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor doesn't think the door on a Knicks-Nets trade is totally closed. While calling Bridges a perfect fit for the Knicks, O'Connor says that Bridges could be had for the right (massive) price.
O'Connor writes:
"Would the Nets be willing to trade Bridges to the Knicks to join his Nova buddies? Based on my conversations with people around the NBA, I believe so … if the Knicks are willing to overpay. But Bridges would be worth it."
Bridges is over-burdened as a first or second option on offense, but he is perfectly suited to be a third or fourth option, which he would be on the Knicks. He can create his own shot in doses, spread the floor (37.5% career 3P%), and keep the ball moving.
Bridges' strong perimeter defense would be a great fit for the Knicks, especially if they re-sign OG Anunoby. Bridges and Anunoby together would form arguably the NBA's most fearsome perimeter defensive tandem in the league.
Furthermore, Bridges played college ball at Villanova alongside the "'Nova Knicks" of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. The Nova Knicks connection would only grow stronger with the addition of Bridges.
What would an overpay consist of?
The Knicks have been gearing up for a big trade for years. They own multiple first-round picks and have some trade-able contracts.
It's been reported that the Nets have turned down trade offers of multiple first-round picks for Bridges, so the Knicks would have to make a mammoth offer to land Bridges.
Assuming the Knicks picked up Bojan Bogdanovic's $19 million salary for 2024-25, the trade machine on FanSpo says the following trade would work from a legal standpoint:
Knicks receive: Mikal Bridges
Nets receive: Bojan Bogdanovic, Miles McBride, 2024 first-round pick (No. 24, via Dallas), 2024 first-round pick (No. 25), 2025 first-round pick (via Milwaukee, top-4 protected), 2025 first-round pick (via Washington, top-10 protected), 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick
Bogdanovic is an expiring contract. McBride isn't an elite prospect, but he's a solid, young 3-and-D guard on an extremely team-friendly contract (three years, $13 million). And this deal would give the Nets six first-round picks, including two in the upcoming draft, to kickstart a rebuild.
The Knicks would still have extra first-round picks to add in the trade, or they could also offer pick swaps to sweeten the package.
Would this be enough, especially for a Nets team that has thus far resisted a full-blown rebuild? Frankly, it's unclear.
The Knicks could try to offer Julius Randle, though given Randle's size, scoring ability, and playmaking, trading him for Bridges might be something of a lateral move, even though Bridges is a more natural fit with the Knicks roster.
It still seems that if the Nets decide to move on from Bridges, they could get a better package of picks or more intriguing young prospects.
However, for the Knicks, with a lack of obvious trade options available, it may be worth at least testing what the Nets would want for a player who so clearly fits New York's roster.
