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The Mikal Bridges Knicks rumors may cease as the Brooklyn Nets finally freed him so he can play with all of his Villanova friends a few subway stations away.
BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets have agreed in principle on a trade to send F Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick via Bucks, an unprotected pick swap and a second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/TEGsIpoa3b
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
Let’s grade this trade. Spoiler: I have a lot of positive things to say about the Knicks.
New York Knicks: A
The New York Knicks won 50 games last season. Injuries robbed them of an opportunity to see just how far they could go in the playoffs but by adding Mikal Bridges, New York gets another unselfish, defense-first wing who adds much-needed depth.
If injuries stopped the Knicks last season then it makes all the sense in the world to go out and acquire a guy who’s played all 82 games four times in his career.
The era of the Big 3 is long gone. Now, it’s about having one or two go-to scorers and surrounding them with guys who’ll take the pressure off of them. Tatum and Brown won the championship because the rest of the roster was full of guys like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Jalen Brunson established himself as an MVP candidate so the Knicks no longer needed to chase stars—stars like Paul George who recently said on his lame-ass podcast that he doesn’t want to do the dirty work.
Every single player on this Knicks team does the dirty work. That’s how they win every night. Mikal Bridges is diving on the hardwood for a loose ball. Someone like Kevin Durant or James Harden would just watch the ball roll past their feet.
If the Knicks can re-sign OG Anunoby, they’ll be able to unleash an OG/Bridges/Hart lineup to just shut down opposing team’s water. In the past, players would come to Madison Square Garden and have the best games of their lives. Now, they’re coming to Manhattan for a basketball game and leaving in straitjackets.
The Knicks just built a super team of role players.
Best case scenario: The Villanova boys do the thing they always do when they link up: they win championships.
Worst case scenario: The Villanova boys get all clicky and adding a 4th college friend to the mix alters the locker room chemistry so guys outside of the circle don’t feel connected to the team and someone like Julius Randle feels left out and stops playing as hard and now there’s internal beef.
Brooklyn Nets: C+
Typically, trading a non-All-Star for five first-round picks would land a team an A grade but this isn’t any normal franchise. This is the Brooklyn Nets. These draft picks are going to be sent elsewhere in exchange for a player who will let them down.
Whether it’s acquiring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from Boston or Kevin Durant or James Harden or Ben Simmons, the Nets use their draft capital to get stars who come to Brooklyn for a little paid vacation.
So I reckon the real winner of this Mika Bridges Knicks trade is either the Hawks or Cavs who will inevitably end up building a dynasty off these draft picks while Trae Young or Donovan Mitchell focus on opening a weed dispensary in Williamsburg.
Best case scenario: The Nets actually use these picks and build through the draft, creating a roster from the studs up instead of rushing for quick adrenaline rushes.
Worst case scenario: The Miami Heat get a bunch of Knicks picks while Jimmy Butler limps his way to Brooklyn, playing like, 40 games a year until he’s done stealing their money.
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Who do you think won this Mikal Bridges Knicks trade? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let me know if you think Brooklyn won so I can get a good laugh in.
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