With Mikal Bridges traded to Knicks, Nets are back at square one (2024)

Twenty-four hours before the NBA Draft on Wednesday, the Nets had a quiet buzz about their free-agent plans with no picks in the two-day extravaganza. That all changed late Tuesday night with a bombshell trade.

Mikal Bridges is headed to the Knicks, a league source confirmed to Newsday, and the Nets are receiving Bojan Bogdanovic and a slew of picks to head into a deeper rebuild that began in earnest a year ago when they traded Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Bridges became the face of the new-look Nets when he arrived in February 2023 from the Suns in the Durant trade. In 109 games with the Nets, he averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists as he stepped into a leading role on a team for the first time in his career.

The Nets appeared determined to hold on to him as they reportedly turned down multiple offers to trade him. The Athletic reported in March the Nets rejected a deadline deal involving the Rockets, sending multiple picks and third-year guard Jalen Green.

However, the Knicks’ offer proved the one the Nets couldn’t refuse. It’s the first trade between the teams since 1983 and Bridges will reunite with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart.

“This is crazy lol,” Bridges posted on X after the deal was reported.

The Nets, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018, received first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031, a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Bucks and a 2028 unprotected pick swap.

Adding to the frenzy was a separate deal the Nets made with the Rockets on Tuesday. The Nets sent four picks for the Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick — which the Rockets got when the Nets traded for James Harden — and a 2025 first-round pick swap.

The Rockets received first-round picks in 2025 and 2027 that the Nets acquired via the Suns, the Nets’ own 2029 first-round pick and a 2029 pick swap.

The Nets now have four first-round picks for 2025. In total, they have 16 first-round picks between 2025-31.

What it means is the Nets are officially starting over. With Bridges gone, they lack a proven star to build around and now face more questions heading into the offseason.

Will Nic Claxton, an unrestricted free agent, re-sign with a team that’s starting over from scratch? Claxton has played his entire career in Brooklyn but now has to weigh his decision even closer.

The Nets were already a young team with five players 23 years or younger. Now those young players such as Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe will have to take a step forward, as will Cam Johnson, who had an up-and-down first full season with the Nets due to injuries.

Thomas, an upcoming free agent in 2025, will likely have a bigger role after averaging 22.5 points last season.

More importantly, trading Bridges means the Nets are fully on board looking toward the 2025 offseason. Depending on whether or not they re-sign Claxton, they could have around $60-$80 million in cap space available, as Ben Simmons and Dennis Schroder will both be free agents.

The 2025 draft is also regarded as a deeper draft than this year. Now the Nets are armed with picks to either select a promising young player or two or entice a team with a superstar talent to make a deal.

But in the short term, it means the Nets could be in for a long 2024 season unless more moves are made. It creates a tougher situation for first-year coach Jordi Fernandez, who inherits a team high on player development but low on star power.

Bridges was a reliable player who never missed a game yet couldn’t elevate a Nets team that lacked shot creation when Ben Simmons was limited to 15 games with his back injury. The Nets went 15-37 to end the season following a loss to the Bucks in December when they rested multiple starters

On the heels of trading Durant and Irving in 2023, the Nets are back to square one looking for a new identity. Time will tell what’s next after the Nets surprised the NBA world by trading last season’s leading scorer to the team across town.

“We can take a variety of different pathways,” general manager Sean Marks said in April on his plan for the team. “We have to be prudent, patient, systematic with who we go after, when we go after them, and just make sure we do it the right way.”

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.com

evan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.

With Mikal Bridges traded to Knicks, Nets are back at square one (2024)

FAQs

What did the Knicks trade for Mikal Bridges? ›

The Knicks will pay big to get him, sending Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton and Mamadi Diakite to the Nets along with four unprotected first-round picks and one protected pick. Knicks receive: Mikal Bridges.

Why did the Nets trade Mikal Bridges? ›

Bridges was the key piece the Nets acquired when they sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix in 2023, and his brilliant play down the stretch got them into the playoffs that spring. No key player came back this time. The trade with the Knicks was all about the haul of draft picks the Nets could accumulate for future success.

What grade did the Knicks get for the Bridges trade? ›

Given the full context of the trade, the price, and the fit Bridges has with the roster, Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley gaves the Knicks a "B" for the trade. "Coach Tom Thibodeau will appreciate Bridges' reliability and durability, too. The guy always plays.

Did the Knicks acquire Mikal Bridges Keita Bates Diop from the Nets? ›

On the last Independence Day of the Great American Democratic Empire, the Brooklyn Nets officially traded Mikal Bridges, Keita Bates-Diop and a second-round pick to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdonović, Shake Milton, Mamadi Diakite, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected Milwaukee first, an unprotected ...

Who won the Mikal Bridges trade? ›

On the eve of the NBA draft, the Knicks and Nets made their first trade with each other since 1983 and did so in dramatic fashion, as New York agreed in principle to acquire Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn for Bojan Bogdanovic, five first-round draft picks, a first-round pick swap and a second-round selection, sources told ...

How did the Nets get their picks back? ›

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired their 2025 first round draft pick, negating a previously agreed to swap, and their first round pick in 2026, from the Houston Rockets in exchange for a 2025 first round pick swap (Houston/Oklahoma City for Phoenix), the Phoenix Suns' 2027 first…

What picks did the Knicks give the Nets? ›

BROOKLYN – The Brooklyn Nets have acquired five first round draft picks, one first round pick swap, a second round draft pick, forwards Bojan Bogdanović and Mamadi Diakite and guard Shake Milton from the New York Knicks in exchange for forwards Mikal Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop, a 2026 second round draft pick (least ...

Who did the Knicks get in trade? ›

The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks agreed to a trade that will send former All-Defense member and 20-point scorer Mikal Bridges across the East River, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.

How long is Mikal Bridges contract with the Nets? ›

The Nets paid the rest of Bridges' 2022-23 salary and all of it for the 2023-24 season. The Knicks will now inherit the final two years of the deal, which are worth a combined $48.2 million, per Spotrac.com. Bridges will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 NBA season.

Did the Knicks win in 69? ›

The 1969 New York Mets, Jets, and Knicks triumphed on the field and court, winning championships in a fast-changing world. Join New York State Museum Sports History Curator Stephen Loughman as he explores this significant year in New York sports history. This program includes a 20-minute talk followed by brief Q&A.

Who was 13 on the Knicks? ›

Although the Knicks were one of the league's original eleven teams who debuted with the league in 1946, the #13 would not see the light of day in New York City until 1978 when Ray Williams became the first Knick to don the number.

Who was 14 on the Knicks? ›

Anthony Mason: Since joining P&T, I have done my fair share of appreciation posts for my favorite Knick of all time Anthony Mason, including a special tribute on his birthday and a special P&T segment that named him as having the Most Iconic Hair Style in Knicks history.

Who played for Nets Suns and Knicks? ›

Bridges was selected with the tenth overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Phoenix Suns on draft night, where he was a part of the team that reached the 2021 NBA Finals. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023 and was later traded to the Knicks in July 2024.

What did the Knicks give up for Bridges? ›

So, if you call the second round picks that were exchanged a wash, that means that the Knicks gave up the equivalent of five first round picks and a second round pick for Bridges, which is a decent bit more than the Celtics gave up for Holiday.

What did Knicks get in trade? ›

BROOKLYN – The Brooklyn Nets have acquired five first round draft picks, one first round pick swap, a second round draft pick, forwards Bojan Bogdanović and Mamadi Diakite and guard Shake Milton from the New York Knicks in exchange for forwards Mikal Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop, a 2026 second round draft pick (least ...

What did the Knicks get for the 26th pick? ›

Then, the Knicks made a separate trade with the Thunder with the No. 26 pick, which Oklahoma City used to select Weber State point guard Dillon Jones. In return, the Knicks acquired five future second-round picks that will come from 2025-27.

Who did the Knicks trade for Latrell Sprewell? ›

Due to the NBA lockout, Sprewell did not play again until February 1999, after the Warriors traded him to the New York Knicks for John Starks, Chris Mills, and Terry Cummings.

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