Mikal Bridges is headed to the New York Knicks in a trade that involves at least six draft picks being sent to the Brooklyn Nets in return, ESPN reported Wednesday. A new major catch for New York which anticipates the possible departure of OG Anunoby, the player having given up on extending his contract to become a free agent on Sunday.
The trade implies that the Knicks part with Bojan Bogdanovic, but also and above all four unprotected first round drafts (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), a protected first round draft (2025, via the Bucks) , and a second round of draft (2025). Furthermore, in 2028, the Nets will have the opportunity to trade their first round pick with the Knicks. In addition to Mikal Bridges, New York gets a second round of draft in 2026.
Bridges will reunite with his Villanova teammates
Bridges, 27, played at Villanova University (2015-18). He would reunite with Knicks stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, all of whom played for the Wildcats when they won the 2016 NCAA Championship under coach Jay Wright.
Bridges was a first-round draft pick in 2018, selected 10th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers before immediately being sent to the Phoenix Suns. He spent over four seasons in Phoenix before being traded to the Nets midway through the 2022-23 season in a deal for Kevin Durant.
Last season, Bridges started all 82 regular season games for the Nets and averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
