The New York Knicks, fresh off an impressive regular season where they secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 50-32 record, have made a significant move to bolster their roster. Despite their success, which included a second-round playoff appearance that ended in a Game 7 loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks are not resting on their laurels.
On Saturday, the Knicks officially announced a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets. According to Knicks PR, the team has acquired Mikal Bridges, Keita Bates-Diop, the draft rights to Juan Pablo Vaulet, and a future second-round pick from the Nets. In exchange, the Knicks are sending Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite, Shake Milton, five future first-round picks, a future pick swap, and a future second-round pick to Brooklyn.
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Mikal Bridges, the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, has spent six seasons in the league, primarily with the Phoenix Suns before moving to the Nets. Bridges boasts career averages of 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 48.0% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc across 474 regular-season games. His playoff experience includes 39 games, highlighted by a run to the 2021 NBA Finals with the Suns.
Bridges’ addition is particularly noteworthy given his college connections with current Knicks players Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Donte DiVincenzo. This prior chemistry is expected to facilitate an immediate and seamless integration into the Knicks’ lineup.
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On the other side of the trade, the Brooklyn Nets are clearly entering a rebuilding phase. While they may struggle in the upcoming season, the haul of future draft picks positions them well for long-term success. The Nets’ decision to part with Bridges and Bates-Diop signals a commitment to building a new core through the draft.
This trade underscores the Knicks’ determination to continue building a championship-contending team, leveraging their assets to bring in proven talent and create a roster capable of competing at the highest level.
