The New York Knicks have their roster pretty set ahead of the 2025-26 season, but there are still some unknowns. The team, of course, has a new head coach in Mike Brown, so while they were already packed with talent last season, Brown naturally wants to put his stamp on this team and shape his own roster of talent.
One of the big questions left for the Knicks is whether they’re going to go into the 2025-26 season with the talented Mikal Bridges in the fold. Even though he’s one of the big names in the Knicks’ franchise, he could also a trade asset that the New York Knicks for multiple purposes.
Well, money might not be a factor when it comes to keeping Bridges, and that’s because of another superstar on the Knicks’ squad, Jalen Brunson. So, let’s get into why Brunson may have made it possible to keep Bridges with the New York Knicks as opposed to having to trade him away.
Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges of the Knicks
Brunson is one of the biggest gets in the NBA right now, and looking at his contract, it’s probably the best deal for a team in the association. Brunson is currently playing on a four-year, $156.5 million deal, which is $12 million less than what was largely expected for him, and that frees up New York to sign other solid players. It’s a smart move on Brunson’s part, too, because if he wants to win a championship, it’s crucial to have good players around him and for him to not be the only star.
Here’s where Bridges comes in. That $12 million from Brunson’s deal could make it easier for the Knicks to afford to keep Bridges, if that’s what they want to do. The Knicks would be able to ink Bridges to a four-year, $156.1 million extension.
In a feature published on Wednesday, July 16, by Bobby Marks of ESPN, Marks discusses the Brunson deal and says that it opens the Knicks up to keep Bridges.
“While the Knicks won’t exceed the second apron this year, that could change in 2026-27 if they want to keep their top seven players under contract,” Marks stated in the feature. “New York is $52 million below the second apron next season, a by-product of Jalen Brunson taking $12 million less in salary. That discount gives New York the room to sign Mikal Bridges to a four-year, $156.1 million extension.”
The Knicks Can Keep Bridges, But Will They?
So, they can afford Bridges, but will they? That’s the big question. There’s been talk that the Knicks want to trade Bridges for Giannis Antetokounmpo in a deal, so anything is possible. “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,” SNY’s Ian Begley said on an episode of The Putback with Ian Begley.
It could really go either way. Bridges is worth the money for that extension, but the Knicks may find that a blockbuster trade with him is more useful in the long run.
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