Revisiting the Mikal Bridges Trade After 1st Half

When the New York Knicks traded five first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, a second-rounder, and Bojan Bogdanović to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges, the deal was met with mixed reviews from the NBA community. Knicks fans were generally happy to pair another Villanova player with their current trio, but others were concerned about the expensive price they had to pay. Sure, Bridges was on a great contract, but New York was essentially mortgaging their entire future to get him. Bridges seems likely to sign a team-friendly extension in the offseason, but for now, we can only evaluate the trade through 54 regular-season games.

Revisiting the Mikal Bridges Trade After the 1st Half

Let’s first take a look at the numbers. Bridges is averaging 17.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds on 49.2% from the field and 35.9% from three, good for 57.8% true shooting. He’s lived up to his Iron Man label, starting all 54 games for Tom Thibodeau. Durability was sorely needed for this Knicks team, who had their season ended by injuries in 2023-24. He also leads the league in total minutes played, notching 38.2 MPG. New York is 8.4 points better with Bridges on the court, which is a positive sign for his effect on the team. It may seem obvious that the squad would be positive when their starters are on the court, but both Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson have negative on/off ratings. Bridges’ defense has been sorely missed anytime he’s off the floor, despite his inconsistent effort on that end.

Bridges Has Been Good, But Still Has Much Room to Improve

The former Net has been extremely solid for his new team in 2024-25, but he needs to reach a higher level for NY to reach the ultimate goal. His 35.9 three-point percentage is his lowest since his rookie year, and his 57.8% true-shooting is the second-lowest since then. After coming into training camp with a seemingly different shooting form that has persisted throughout the season, Bridges has lacked the deadeye marksmanship that we’re accustomed to from him. Notably, in the last 15 games, Bridges has been shooting 44.9 percent from beyond the arc. It shouldn’t be a question of quality of looks, as this is the best offense he’s ever played in. Luckily, his mid-range jumper has been on fire all year, leading to his highest FG% since 2021-22.

However, the area New York desperately needs Bridges to lock in on is the defensive end. The Villanova product showcased his potential in 2021-22 when he placed second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Since then, he’s slowly declined as a defender but is still All-Defense caliber. The Knicks have yet to see that level of defense from Bridges, outside of short flashes. Too many times, he’s been tasked with guarding a star perimeter player and has been gashed repeatedly. It’s one of the contributors to New York’s disappointing defensive performance.

The biggest reason Leon Rose brought him in was to be New York’s primary option to guard opposing ball-handlers. It helps shield Brunson from those matchups, and OG Anunoby is best weaponized against the opponent’s best forward or center. He’s clearly been a useful piece, but Thibodeau needs peak defensive Bridges down the stretch. Bridges has yet to put together a period of elite screen navigation and aggressive on-ball defense. The time is now.

The Trade Return Was Expensive, But Overrated

To complete this trade, the Knicks sent unprotected first-rounders in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031, a 2028 pick swap, and a top-four protected 2025 Bucks selection. At face value, it seems like an outlandish price to pay for a player who likely never becomes an All-Star. For the Knicks, however, these draft picks don’t have nearly the same value as they do for a rebuilding team like Brooklyn. New York’s entire starting five is between 27 and 29 years old, with four of them under contract through at least 2027. Once Bridges re-signs, they’ll have their core group set through the end of the decade. This leaves no room for incoming draft picks to develop, and we know Thibodeau is slow to trust young players.

Of course, every team would love to control their draft picks for multiple reasons. First, it allows a franchise to decide the direction of their team if they need to tank. More importantly, a front office can be competitive in the trade market, should a can’t-miss opportunity present itself. With that, the Knicks are likely drafting at the end of the first round for at least a few years, which could render those picks somewhat useless.

The deal gives Brooklyn more ammo to cash in on a big trade or stockpile young talent as they rebuild. Overall, the Mikal Bridges trade is a rare win-win move for both sides. New York got another win-now player on a cheap contract, who has chemistry with the team and fits their culture. The Nets bolstered their rebuild by getting rid of a guy who wouldn’t factor into their long-term plans. If Bridges elevates his play in the second half, the Knicks will be closer than ever to a championship.

Grade: B

 

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