Mikal Bridges is headed to Manhattan to hitch his former teammates.
The Brooklyn Nets struck a deal to commerce Bridges to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night time, in line with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. In change, the Nets will obtain Bojan Bogdanovic and a slew of future draft capital — together with 4 unprotected first-round picks.
The Knicks are sending 4 unprotected picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031) a 2025 protected Milwaukee first, a 2028 unprotected decide swap and a 2025 second-round decide for Mikal Bridges and a 2026 second-round decide, sources inform ESPN. https://t.co/E4pTq3wCMP
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
The deal will reunite Bridges, a former Villanova star, with different former Wildcats Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. Bridges spent three seasons at Villanova and received two nationwide championships there.
That is loopy lol
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) June 26, 2024
The group even hopped on an enormous FaceTime name on Tuesday night time.
The Nets will obtain an unprotected first spherical decide in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031, in line with Wojnarowski. They’re going to additionally obtain a protected first spherical decide from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025, a second-round decide in 2025 and a protected decide swap in 2028.
Bridges averaged 19.6 factors and 4.5 rebounds final 12 months with the Nets, his first full season with the workforce after they landed him in a take care of the Phoenix Suns earlier than the deadline in 2023. He has two years left on his four-year, $90.9 million deal.
Bagdanović, 35, was traded to the Knicks earlier this 12 months from the Detroit Pistons and was essential of their playoff run — which was lower quick within the Japanese Convention semifinals for a second straight season. He averaged 10.4 factors and two rebounds in 29 video games off the bench with the franchise.
The Nets, who’ve since employed head coach Jordi Fernández, went simply 32-50 final season and missed the playoffs for the primary time since 2018. They’re now a major rebuild which, contemplating the draft picks they now have accessible, is completely doable within the coming years.
Although the Knicks nonetheless have necessary items to determine this offseason — particularly with regards to OG Anunoby — they’re clearly hoping that Bridges’ Villanova reunion can energy them not less than to the Japanese Convention finals after what may have been a 25-year drought subsequent spring.
Nets commerce picks with Rockets, who reportedly need Kevin Durant
The Nets weren’t completed there.
Shortly after that deal was reported, the Nets struck a deal to restructure a number of draft picks with the Houston Rockets.
Extra in deal: Houston acquires 2029 extra favorable of Dallas and Phoenix first-round decide and acquires proper to swap Houston first-round decide for much less favorable Dallas first and Phoenix first, per sources. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
In line with Wojnarowski, that deal was completed as a result of the Rockets wish to make a transfer to land Suns star Kevin Durant in a future commerce. Whereas the Suns have not mentioned they’re keen to deal Durant, who will enter his 18th 12 months within the league this fall, the Rockets now have the picks to tug such a deal off.
If that may’t occur, the Rockets are “decided” to make use of the Suns picks to be aggressive elsewhere. The Rockets are reportedly “looking for a serious improve now.” Houston went 41-41 final season and simply barely missed the playoffs beneath first-year head coach Ime Udoka.