As per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets are trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanović. One of the most coveted players on the trade market this winter, Bridges has been at the epicenter of everything for the Nets, particularly ever since Wojnarowski reported in January that Brooklyn was supposed to build around him.
His departure from the Nets comes as a shock, given the wonderful performance and the team’s plans earlier. Acquired by the Nets during the 2022-23 season in the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, Bridges quickly proved himself. He averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 27 games for Brooklyn, shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 37.6 percent from three-point range.
He has maintained great stats this season: 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game on 43.6 percent field goal and 37.2 percent deep shooting in 82 games.
Despite the effort Bridges put in, the Nets struggled to a 32-50 record, good for 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Probably turning in such a lackluster performance gave the franchise pause and sent Bridges to the Knicks in a trade, who are now looking highly upon his arrival.
Bridges will join his former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo in New York. That should give the Knicks a Wildcats reunion, likely looking to inject fun and bench production into the team.
Brunson and Hart were huge in getting the Knicks to a 50-win regular season, though their playoff run was derailed rather quickly by this year’s Indiana Pacers in the second round, in large part due to various injuries.
Bridges is supposed to bring in much-needed secondary scoring for the Knicks, potentially elevating the team’s overall offensive capabilities. His addition could really make a difference if they are able to re-sign OG Anunoby, solely establishing their backcourt together and further increasing the odds of them gunning for the title come 2025.
The player going to Brooklyn is Bojan Bogdanović, bringing his experience and skills into the Nets. A sharpshooting veteran, Bogdanović could bring in major help for the Brooklyn offense. His inclusion in this deal might suggest that the Nets want players who will be able to make an impact immediately: players who can help stabilize the floor and give them the best chance of competing now.
The addition of Bridges to the already present core of the Knicks is going to make for some good action throughout the season. How this trade will eventually work out for either side will become very clear as fans and experts alike look to see how this deal works in affecting both sides’ performances and whether Bridges can help propel the Knicks deeper into the playoffs this year.
