Tag: Mikal Bridges

Nets get even better grade for Kevin Durant trade after Mikal Bridges deal

After the Brooklyn Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for quite the haul, their trade of Kevin Durant is looking even better.

The Brooklyn Nets have been one of the more interesting teams in the NBA in recent memory and not for all of the best reasons. After the past two seasons, Brooklyn have traded three superstars along with a valuable two-way player in Mikal Bridges, but they’re at least getting their praises for their return.

In a recent article by Bleacher Report, their NBA staff decided to regrade some of the biggest trades that have happened in the last five years. As every Nets fan knows, Brooklyn has been involved in some of the biggest trades over the past couple of seasons, including trading Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns.

As a recap of the trade, the Nets received Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Cameron Johnson, 2023 first-round pick (Noah Clowney), 2025 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round swap, 2029 first-round pick while the Suns received Durant and TJ Warren.

While many had said at the time that the Nets do not do a good job of managing their superstar era of Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden since all of the stars requested their own trades before anything substantial happened.

Given that Brooklyn was able to get so much for Durant and then get so much for Bridges after trading him to the New York Knicks last month, the franchise is now looking like one of the best organizations in terms of getting equitable returns for their players.

As a result, Bleacher Report gave the Nets an A++++ grade because of the combined returns for Durant and Bridges and now, Brooklyn is set up well for the next few years in terms of draft capital. Here’s what Dan Favale had to say about the Nets’ grade:

“Bridges was just flipped to the New York Knicks for five additional first-round picks and another first-round swap. Brooklyn was also able to leverage Phoenix’s 2027 and 2029 selections into regaining control of its own first-rounders for 2025 and 2026.

All told, the Nets basically turned KD and two swaps into seven extra first-round picks, the return of the rights to a pair of their own firsts, another two swaps and Cam Johnson. (Crowder was also used to scoop up seconds from Milwaukee in 2028 and 2029—another savvy move).”

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Mikal Bridges says leadership could have been better while with Nets

New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges recently spoke on how his leadership during his time with the Brooklyn Nets could have been better.

The Brooklyn Nets are moving on to a full-scale rebuild of their franchise now that they have an eye towards the future with their young players and cache of draft picks. While Brooklyn once had a vision of their future with Mikal Bridges in it, the franchise eventually traded him to the New York Knicks, ending a tenure that he admits he could have handled better.

“I think could have been better, that’s what I think,” Bridges said during a recent appearance on “Podcast P” along with Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George, former NBA player Carmelo Anthony, actor Jackie Long, and Dallas Rutherford. Bridges and Anthony both made guest appearances on the show and some of what the cast talked about pertained to Bridges’ time with the Nets.

“But, it’s different. I was close to everybody, we was all pretty close,” Bridges explained. “We just couldn’t figure it out. I think that was the toughest situation and you want to lead and help other guys but, sometimes you got to look yourself in the mirror. It’s like, what can I do better to help?”

After the Nets traded Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant during the 2022-23 season, the Durant trade being the one that brought Bridges to Brooklyn, Bridges became one of the leaders of a Nets team still looking to still be competitive despite not having a superstar on the roster. Coming into the 2023-24 season, with many in the NBA space expecting an All-Star level season from him, Bridges’ numbers dropped across the board and it seemed that the joyfulness that he normally played with was fading away with each loss.

After spending the first 4.5 seasons of his NBA career playing with guys like Chris Paul and Devin Booker while being led by coaches like Monty Williams, Bridges was thrust into a leadership role that was unfamiliar to him up to that point. It sounds like he gave it his best shot, but it appears that he is looking forward to having less of a leadership responsibility with the Knicks next season.

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Nets’ Cam Thomas explains how Mikal Bridges trade changes his role

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas will be walking into a new opportunity to lead the offense and he explained what that new role looks like.

The Brooklyn Nets have committed to a full-scale rebuild after they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for three players and as many as five first-round picks. Now that Bridges is with the Knicks, Brooklyn will be looking for its next star, but one of their current players will also get an increased opportunity to show what he can do.

Nets guard Cam Thomas is one of the most popular players within the Nets fanbase and rightfully so given how well he played last season for a Brooklyn team that needed scoring. Thomas, who went from scoring 10.6 points per game in the 2022-23 season to 22.5 points per game this past season, will now have to get used to life without Bridges following the surprising trade.

“I wouldn’t say it changes, but [there will] probably be more of an emphasis on what I’m supposed to do, you know, scoring the ball and playmaking for the guys,” Thomas recently said to Erik Slater of ClutchPoints at the Las Vegas Summer League when asked when will change now that Brooklyn is headed into a rebuild.

Prior to the Nets trading Bridges, the franchise was operating under the belief of adding another star-level player to pair with Bridges and Thomas so that the team could make it back to the playoffs and compete. However, now that Bridges is gone, Thomas will most likely be the leader of the offense, especially if Brooklyn ends up trading some of the veterans that remain on the roster.

“So, I wouldn’t necessarily say it changes what I do, because I’ve been doing the same thing since I’ve been here,” Thomas explained. “I’ll probably just take it to a different level, for sure.” One thing that is for certain is that Thomas will be getting enough opportunities to show what he can do for an organization looking for star power.

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Nets’ Cam Johnson breaks silence on Mikal Bridges trade

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson spoke to the media on Sunday at the Vegas Summer League about finding out about the Mikal Bridges trade.

The Brooklyn Nets are one of the teams that are transitioning from trying to contend for the playoffs to rebuilding after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for three players and as many as five first-round picks. With veterans like forward Cam Johnson that seem to be caught at a crossroads of sorts, he recently had the chance to speak on everything that has happened this summer.

“I got an ESPN alert. I probably learned after the trade, I was probably one the last to know. ESPN alert, that’s how I found out,” Johnson said on Sunday to the media at the Las Vegas Summer League about how he found out about the Bridges trade. These comments are interesting considering that Bridges and Johnson have been known as “twins” since their days with the Phoenix Suns because of how close they are.

Granted, Nets general manager Sean Marks recently said to the media that Bridges did not ask to be traded and even he did not know about the trade until it went through. So, it seems like Johnson found out like the rest of the NBA world when the trade was reported on social media, something that typically doesn’t happen between players that are close to each other.

Either way, Bridges is with the Knicks now and Johnson could be playing for the Nets for the entirety of this season or could be moved at some point. For now, the “twins” will be playing for different teams for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

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Mikal Bridges discusses being traded from the Nets to the Knicks

The Brooklyn Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks on June 25. Bridges addressed the media on Tuesday to give his reaction.

The Brooklyn Nets made one of the most surprising moves in the NBA this summer when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for as many as five first-round picks and three players. Brooklyn had given the impression that Bridges was virtually untouchable on the trade market so once he was traded, he was more shocked than anyone else.

“Yeah, it’s tough. This is my third team now and wherever I go, I always feel like I build pretty good relationships,” Bridges said during his introductory press conference to the media on Tuesday. The Bridges trade was officially announced on July 6, but the initial reporting of the trade happened on June 25, leaving a lot of time for both times to figure out how to make the trade work for both sides.

“I got a lot of relationships that I built over there (Brooklyn), my teammates, everybody in the organization, the staff,” Bridges explained. “The year and a half I was there, I talk to everybody so you know I’m going to be pretty close with everybody, it’s sad, man.”

Bridges came to the Nets during the 2022-23 season as part of the Kevin Durant trade that sent Durant to the Phoenix Suns. The way that Bridges played in Brooklyn that season even led many people in the NBA space to believe that he would become an All-Star for the first time in his career.

However, Bridges went from 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game on 47.5/37.6/89.4 shooting splits during 2022-23 to 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 43.6% from the field, 37.2% from three-point land, and 81.4% from the free-throw line.

It sounds like Bridges appreciated his time with the Nets and will miss the connections that he made there, especially since he was traded away from his “twin,” forward Cam Johnson. The two have played on the same team since the 2019-20 season.

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Nets GM Sean Marks says Mikal Bridges didn’t request a trade

Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks went on the record Monday to say that Mikal Bridges did not request a trade to the New York Knicks.

NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets have gone through quite the shift in their organizational direction after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks recently in exchange for three players and a haul of first-round picks. Following Bridges’ trade to the Knicks, there were reports that Bridges had wanted to go to New York, something that the man behind the move addressed on the record.

“I think it’s been reported that Mikal wanted to leave or requested a trade. That could not be further from the truth,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said to the media on Monday following Brooklyn’s practice in preparation for the Las Vegas Summer League. After the trade was initially reported on June 25, Ian Begley of SNY reported that Bridges informed the Nets earlier that week that he wanted to be a member of the Knicks.

“I think that’s just not in Mikal’s character,” Marks explained. “It’s not who he is. And, that definitely did not happen. But, he was told by me when I called him up and let them know that we’re at the 2-yard line.” Bridges has not addressed the media since he was traded to New York so it’s possible that he can shed more light on what happened behind the scenes.

Either way, Bridges is with the Knicks now and that means that the Nets can begin their rebuild without having to worry about competing for the playoffs with a roster that needs more talent. Prior to the trade, it appeared as if Brooklyn was trying to acquire another star either through free-agency or through trade to pair with Bridges in the pursuit of getting back to the playoffs.

Now, Marks gets his second try at rebuilding the Nets and the hope this time is that the future version of Brooklyn is viable for more than just a couple of seasons. Marks’ willingness, or New York’s determination, to make the Bridges trade happen has set up the Nets to be able to build the future the way they want to.

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Nets GM Sean Marks explains trading Mikal Bridges to Knicks

After the Brooklyn Nets’ summer league practice on Monday, general manager Sean Marks explains why Mikal Bridges was traded to the Knicks.

NEW YORK — On June 25, the Brooklyn Nets made a decision that shocked the NBA world when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks and subsequently triggered a rebuild. Up to that point, Brooklyn had reportedly been treating Bridges as virtually untouchable, but it looks like the Knicks’ offer was too enticing.

“I think it’s numerous factors, frankly; you’re weighing up the situation we find ourselves as a team, as an organization, the timing of such,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said on Monday during his press conference following Brooklyn’s summer league practice. Marks, in collaboration with governor Joe Tsai, seemingly decided that holding out hope for a star to come to Brooklyn to play with Bridges was not worth passing up on one of the biggest hauls in NBA history.

“It’s a difficult decision because Mikal was a focal point of this organization for the last year since we did the trade,” Marks said about how important Bridges became to the organization after he was acquired as part of the Kevin Durant trade during the 2022-23 season. “So, not an easy decision, but at the same time, when you have an offer like we did from New York, I think that sets us up on a very, very clear direction and pathway to continue to build this team with sustainable success, and that’s the ultimate goal here.”

The Bridges trade became official on July 6 and the final return was essentially five first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, and three players including forward Bojan Bogdanovic. It took awhile for the deal to become official because the Knicks were trying to find a way to maintain some financial flexibility without trading Miles “Deuce” McBridge and that’s how the Nets ended up with Shake Milton and Mamadi Diakite.

After the trade was initially reported, there were rumors that Bridges wanted to be on the Knicks possibly as an attempt to reunite with three of his former college teammates that play for New York. Either way, it seems that Marks was willing to hold onto Bridges until an offer came along that made him think things over.

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Mikal Bridges posts goodbye message to Nets via Instagram

Mikal Bridges posted a goodbye message on Sunday to the Brooklyn Nets via Instagram following his trade to the New York Knicks.

 

The Brooklyn Nets shocked many in the NBA space recently when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for three players and a horde of first-round draft picks. While many debate whether the Knicks overpaid for Bridges, he took the time to give a proper goodbye to the team that traded for him as part of the Kevin Durant trade to the Phoenix Suns.

Bridges posted Sunday on Instagram a goodbye message to the Nets and their fanbase and posted several pictures from this time with the team. Bridges shared 10 pictures that shows him with virtually every one of the players that he has come in contact with since coming to the Nets during the 2022-23 campaign.

“Where do I even start? Brooklyn, man, I appreciate y’all so much. I will never forget the love and support when I first got traded here,” Bridges wrote on his Instagram post. “From never thinking I was gonna get traded from a place I called home for the last five years to everybody just embracing me was something I did not expect.”

Bridges was a player that was reportedly close to be untouchable and that the Nets wanted to have in the fold for when they were able to acquire a star. However, it looks like Brooklyn changed its mind once the Knicks came to them with an offer that they simply couldn’t refuse.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9Ijyp7OHqq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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Nets trading Mikal Bridges to Knicks surprised Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart

The Brooklyn Nets trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks last week was something that surprised Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.

The Brooklyn Nets made one of the most shocking moves last week when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for forward Bojan Bogdanovic and as many as five first-round picks. Not only had there not been recent history of the Nets and Knicks doing business with each other, but Bridges being the one who was traded surprised many, including a couple of current Knicks.

In a recent episode of the “Roommates Show” podcast, New York’s Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart discussed many topics related to free-agency, including the moves that the Knicks made. One of the main stories to come up was New York trading for Bridges, something that both Brunson and Hart were taken aback by.

“I think it caught all of us by surprise because I actually was talking to (Mikal) like three hours before. We were just talking, really. Just saying nothing like we was just in there chopping it up and then, we hang up,” Hart said.

Ironically enough, Bridges and Hart had a hilarious exchange on Instagram about a possible reunion between the former Villanova teammates while Hart was participating in ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Finals. Brunson also gave his take on the trade that seemingly catapulted the Knicks to potential championship contenders while the Nets get the rebuild that many in NBA spaces had been begging them to do.

“I was in Chicago last week doing my camp at my high school and then, we went to dinner. I’m literally picking up sushi from the other side of the table and Miles, the Knicks’ videographer, he’s like ‘damn Knicks just got Mikal.’ I just started laughing, he’s like ‘no for real look.’ Man, I ran out the door with my phone and called y’all right away.” Brunson said.

Similar to Hart and Brunson, many around the NBA were surprised on two fronts: that Bridges was traded at all after the Nets made him virtually untouchable and that the Nets and Knicks made a trade with each other for the first time since 1983. However, many view the trade as beneficial for both franchises and it seems that both fanbases are equally as happy.

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Nets receive G Shake Milton from Knicks to complete Mikal Bridges trade

The Brooklyn Nets will be receiving Shake Milton to complete the Mikal Bridges trade, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The Brooklyn Nets officially began their rebuild last week when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for forward Bojan Bogdanovic and as many as five first-round picks. However, the trade wasn’t officially completed because the Knicks did not send away enough salary, until New York found someone to part with more than a week later.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium on Thursday, the Knicks will be signing guard Shake Milton to a three-year, $9 million deal before trading him to the Nets to complete the Bridges trade. Charania also notes that Brooklyn will be sending forward Keita Bates-Diop to New York as part of the deal.

Fred Katz of The Athletic later added that the Knicks will also be sending forward Mamadi Diakite in order to avoid being capped at the first apron as stated by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Charania reported towards the end of June that Bates-Diop opted in to his $2.65 player option for this season.

So, in addition to Bogdanovic and the first-round picks, the Nets will also be receiving Milton and Diakite, two players that could either be flipped for more assets or could get playing time on a Brooklyn team that is clearly in rebuild mode. How much playing time either of the new incoming players will receive is still left to be determined, but it looks like the Bridges trade should be complete at this point.

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