The New York Knicks have a few spots left to work out on their roster ahead of the 2024-25 season, and even though the core of their team is set, those remaining unknowns will matter a lot to the success of next season. With new head coach Mike Brown in place, he’s making some big decisions, and those may include trading a surprising player.
Mikal Bridges is one of the Knicks’ strongest players, and he’s become a beloved part of the franchise. But, Bridges is also a huge trade asset for the New York Knicks. What’s a team to do?
It’s a tough situation. Keeping Bridges makes sense, because he has good chemistry with the team and is a strong part of the franchise. But, if New York wants to win a championship and get past those Eastern Conference Finals, they may have to switch things up. Now, the Knicks are being predicted to trade Bridges for a $175 million superstar, and soon.
Knicks’ Mikal Bridges May Be on the Trading Block
Since the end of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Bridges has been eligible to sign a four-year, $156.2 million max extension with the Knicks. But, he hasn’t yet. As Dan Favale of The Daily Knicks explains, New York “just basically confirmed why no deal is in place: They want to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
In a piece published on Wednesday, July 16, Favale notes that “if Bridges signs for the full freight, he cannot be moved to another team for six months. This would mean he can’t be part of any midseason package for Giannis. That is beyond problematic for a New York squad that can’t trade any first-round picks until next summer.”
So, they’re likely holding out for Antetokounmpo. SNY’s Ian Begley also hinted at this during an episode of The Putback with Ian Begley. He said, per Bleacher Report’s Andrew Peters, “The Knicks and all the other teams are kind of keeping an eye on Milwaukee and what may or may not happen there.”
NBA Insider Confirms Knicks Interest
Begley adds, “I think one of the reasons why (Bridges) has not been extended yet is because once you extend him, you cannot trade him for six months and I think until the Giannis stuff is fully settled, and I don’t think it’s fully settled yet… When he does extend, I think that tells you Giannis is put to bed, is off the table in a sense.”
So, Begley is certainly an insider, and he’s not just making this idea up out of thin air. The Knicks could very well be trying to work out a blockbuster Antetokounmpo trade.
But, it could get messy. As Favale explains, “there is a scenario in which the Knicks extend Bridges and he’s still trade-eligible. It requires him accepting only a 5 percent raise in his next contract, or signing a deal before August 5. Neither outcome feels especially feasible. That’s perfectly fine—so long as the Knicks know Giannis is developing gaga eyes for New York.”
So, right now, the Knicks are gambling by not working out Bridges’ future. It’s a gamble that may pay off, but if it doesn’t, it could also be pie in their face.
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