Mikal Bridges didn’t ask for a trade before Knicks deal: Sean Marks

Nets GM Sean Marks insisted Mikal Bridges did not force Brooklyn’s rebuild by demanding a trade.

But make no mistake, they are in a complete rebuild.

And he swears it won’t take long.

Marks believes that – despite all the demanding trades and bridges moved by the Big 3 – Brooklyn is still breaking even.

“It’s something we’ll continue to be strategic on and let it play out. But do I think this build will take time? We will be strategic in this. But I think being in this market, with this amount of draft assets, we’ve done it before,” Marks said. “Not that it’s going to be expedited by any means, but I don’t think it’s going to be a lengthy process either.”

Reconstructions come in all shapes and sizes.

And speed.

The Pistons have had one winning season since 2007-08 – none since 2015-16 – and have been tanking for at least five years.

But Houston’s rebuilding was swift, as was Indiana’s.

The Nets are hoping to follow Houston’s path instead of Detroit’s.

After a 32–50 season – in which they could not land a star to pair with Bridges – they moved him.

“We could have kept waiting. There is no shortage of players who want to play with Mikal,” Marks said. “But it, for us, leads to a very clear path and direction as to how we’re going to build.”

Even if it means making a trade with the rival Knicks.

“You have to look at yourself in the mirror as an organization, and say ‘What is the best path for us to move forward here, and how do we do that and how do we get the sustainable success that we want? ‘ Marks said. “So when you’re able to (add) that amount of draft assets over the last year, it’s going to help us in our trajectory long-term.”

That amount was a lump sum.

Two months after hiring coach Jordi Fernandez and a day before re-signing free agent Nick Claxton – both of whom, according to Marks, were warned about the possibility – the Nets focused on.

Brooklyn reached a deal with Houston to gain control of its own 2025 and ’26 first-round selections.

And in exchange for Bridges, they received the Knicks’ 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031 first-rounders, a 2028 first-round swap, and the Bucks’ 2025 first-rounder.

They also got their second rounder back next year.

That means they could have six selections – and potentially five in the top 40 – in next June’s draft, which is considered both deep and loaded by experts.

Marks said, “We’re always thinking two, three, four years ahead to determine a path forward and when we’re looking at it, we’re not going to make our choices, honestly, it’s going to be those two drafts.” “Will be detrimental to the classes.” “So now we have quite a number of selections, especially in ’25. We’ll see how we navigate it. But we’re excited about what the future holds.”

That future will be built on up to $80 million in cap space next summer and 16 first-round picks over the next seven years.

Many came from the Bridges trade, whom Marx insisted would never be asked to leave.

“It has been reported that Mikal wanted to leave or requested a trade. “This couldn’t be further from the truth,” Marx said. “This is absolutely not in Mikal’s character. That’s not it, and it certainly didn’t happen. When I called him and told him we were at the 2-yard line, he told me that.”

The Nets forced a turnover on Bridges across the goal line.

But now they’re starting the next drive, another rebuild.

In 2016, the Nets had to take a salary cut to gain selection; This time around they will have abundant cap space – and he’s confident the players will happily take it.

“We will look strategically at how we continue to build. This time we can build through the cap space we have,” Marks said. “Having the flexibility in this new (collective bargaining agreement), nobody’s quite sure how it’s going to be; look at free agency right now and how it’s affecting different teams. So for us to have that flexibility going into the season.” It is very important to keep.”