Mikal Bridges crossed the bridge to complete the Nova Gang, and begin the Knicks’ serious bid for a championship.
Leon Rose traded Bridges away from Brooklyn on Tuesday night, ultimately relinquishing his draft selection and fully joining a team that now includes four members of Villanova’s championship teams.
The trade was a surprise for several reasons, particularly because the Nets, who lived in the shadow of their rival’s popularity, were seen around the league as very reluctant to aid the Knicks’ pursuit of a championship.
But Sean Marks’ production was deteriorating after his failures with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
Bridges became their best player by default, but last season he demonstrated he wasn’t good enough to carry the torch to a playoff team.
Brooklyn’s acquisition for Bridges – four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), a 2025 protected first-rounder re-routed from the Bucks, a 2028 unprotected pick swap and a 2025 second-round pick – his Considering the shortcomings, it was heavy. Top role.
The Knicks kept their picks — 24th and 25th overall — for Wednesday’s draft.
The Knicks had been sitting on their pick for years waiting for the right opportunity, stopping just short of completing a deal for Donovan Mitchell two years ago.
They now believe they finally found the right target because of Bridges’ two-way versatility, his durability, his kinship with the roster core and the 27-year-old reportedly made it known he likes the Knicks .
Bridges is on a team-friendly deal, with two years and approximately $48 million remaining.
From Rose, who has been cautious throughout his tenure, the trade is a message that he is going for it after back-to-back trips to the conference semifinals.
Bojan Bogdanovic, who recently had foot and wrist surgery, was paid an equal salary by the Knicks.
In other words, they didn’t give up a single player who was projected as a key part of the rotation.
Bridges doesn’t need to be No. 1 with the Knicks, who have two All-Stars — Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle — as well as a strong supporting cast that helped lead Tom Thibodeau’s team to the second-best record in the East.
Bridges also apparently wanted to join his college friends on the Knicks.
Josh Hart turned Bridges’ jealousy into a meme last season after watching the Nova trio – Brunson, Hart and Donte DiVincenzo – succeed with much attention and fanfare at MSG.
Wing’s arrival also comes as other big questions are being asked about the Knicks’ roster.
OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein are both unrestricted free agents this summer.
The Knicks could go to the max to re-sign Anunoby, but are limited to a four-year, $72.5 million offer for Hartenstein.
Assuming Anunoby returns, Bridges will likely replace DiVincenzo in the starting lineup. The players involved looked very excited.
After the trade leaked on Tuesday, Hart tweeted, “U @Mickle_Bridge finally hit my line!!!!” and “Yo we f–kin lit.”
Brunson kept it simple with an “Oh my God” tweet.
Bridges added, “It’s crazy.”
Earlier this season, Bridges was a guest on Brunson and Hart’s podcast, “The Roommates Show,” and the conversation was led by Hart to the immense popularity of the Knicks compared to the Nets.
“No matter how big the Nets get, it’s still Knicks town,” Hart said. “I was in LA. No matter how good the Clippers get, L.A. will always be the Lakers.”
Bridges mostly nodded, looking annoyed at the reality of generational fans in New York. Hart then said that “the vibes have been tough” in Brooklyn given the dynamics of the fans, and asked if Bridges had ever looked across the river to play.
That was Bridges’ chance to loudly declare his allegiance to the Nets and defend their fans, and instead he joked about watching Brooklyn from across the river because he lives in Manhattan.
An awkward silence followed and months later the trade with the Knicks occurred.
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