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Sports in a Serious Light
The New York Knicks are eying success in the Eastern Conference and have made moves to strengthen their roster. They have finalized a trade with the Brooklyn Nets to bring in forward Mikal Bridges in exchange for Bojan Bodganovic, along with four unprotected first-round picks, a 2025 protected first-round pick, a pick swap, and two second-round picks. An individual familiar with the trade confirmed these details to USA TODAY Sports.
The identity of the individual remains anonymous as they are not permitted to go public with the information until the deal is formalized.
As part of the deal, the Nets will acquire the Knicks’ first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031.
Bridges is recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way players, showcasing consistency and reliability. In the previous season with the Nets, he maintained impressive averages of 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Additionally, Bridges boasted shooting percentages of 43.6% from the field, 37.2% from beyond the arc, and 81.4% from the free-throw line during the 2023-24 season.
The 27-year-old athlete has not missed a single game over the course of his six-year career and notably participated in 83 games during the 2022-23 season after being traded to the Nets as part of the Kevin Durant deal with Phoenix.
Bridges is currently under contract for two more seasons, amounting to $48.2 million, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 season.
During the previous season, the Knicks were eliminated in a hard-fought seven-game series against Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The team faced challenges due to injuries to key players such as Julius Randle, Bogdanovic, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson. Star player Jalen Brunson also suffered a fractured hand during the decisive Game 7 loss.
The Knicks have also continued to add former Villanova standouts to their roster. With Bridges joining the team, the Knicks will now feature four players from Villanova, including Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. All four had previously played together during the 2016-17 season at Villanova.
This trade signifies the first transaction between the two franchises since 1983, when the Knicks traded a second-round pick to the Nets for Len Elmore.
Assessment of the Knicks-Nets Trade
Knicks: B+
The Knicks made a significant investment in acquiring Bridges, surrendering four unprotected first-round picks and additional assets. However, the decision to bolster their roster in pursuit of contention for an NBA title reflects a strategic move. Even with a fully fit squad, the Knicks recognized the need for improvement to compete against teams like Boston for Eastern Conference supremacy. Despite this trade, the Knicks still have areas to address within their lineup, particularly with free agents OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein, who played integral roles in the team’s recent success.
Nets: A-
The Nets are in the process of rebuilding following the disappointment of the Durant-Harden-Irving era, which failed to yield significant results. While the trade with the Knicks has garnered them a substantial return, Brooklyn must now focus on utilizing these draft picks effectively to secure quality players for the future.
Separate Agreement between Nets and Rockets
The Brooklyn Nets have also finalized a separate trade with the Houston Rockets involving draft picks, as confirmed by statements from both organizations.
In this deal:
∎ The Nets regain ownership of their 2025 first-round draft pick, canceling a previously arranged swap.
∎ Brooklyn reclaims their first-round pick for 2026, which had been transferred to Houston in an earlier deal.
The Rockets, in return, receive:
∎ The rights to interchange either their own first-round pick or Oklahoma City’s pick for Phoenix’s first-round pick in 2025.
∎ Phoenix’s first-round pick in 2027.
∎ Rights obtained in 2019 to select the more favorable first-round pick between Dallas’ and Phoenix’s, along with the choice to switch their own first-round pick for the lesser option between Dallas’ and Phoenix’s first-round picks.
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Author : usa-news
Publish date : 2024-06-27 15:55:46
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