Mikal Bridges trade continues to look better for the Nets

Brooklyn Bridges somehow quickly became a New York nightmare. 

Seven-year NBA veteran Mikal Bridges went completely missing for the Knicks on Friday, off on all nine shots from the field, including seven threes, without any free throw attempts in 32 minutes. It was nearly John Cena-esque invisibility for Bridges in New York’s 25-point blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, down both Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren at the Garden. Zero points, on top of getting scorched defensively.

Through 39 games this season, the 28-year-old former No. 10 overall pick is averaging 17.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 38.9 minutes per contest, shooting 49 percent (7.4/15.1 FG) overall and 33.3 percent (2.3/6.8 3PT) behind the arc. In comparison, before his trade from Phoenix to Brooklyn in 2023, Bridges averaged 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 36.4 minutes, shooting 46.3 percent (6.3/13.6 FG) overall and 38.7 percent (1.8/4.7 3PT) from deep during 56 appearances with the Suns. 

Essentially the same player, right? Only in this case, New York gave the Nets four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), a 2025 top-four protected first-round pick via Milwaukee, a 2028 unprotected pick swap and a 2025 second-round pick for Bridges last July.

Make of that what you will, but some might use the term 'robbery.' Brooklyn originally acquired Bridges alongside Cameron Johnson, four first-round picks, two second-round picks and a 2028 first-round pick swap for Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren at the deadline in 2023.

With a Johnson trade on the horizon also holding the potential to bring multiple first-round picks to the franchise, general manager Sean Marks couldn’t be in a better position to regroup this offseason following the unfortunate breakup of his attempt at a super team two years ago.

Now, why did the Knicks go all-in?

For a team that has made the Eastern Conference Semifinals two seasons in a row, a move like the Bridges trade has to get you over the hump. Welcoming him to the “Nova Knicks” next to former teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart might have had some merit on paper, but for that price at this production rate, not so much in hindsight to date.

Boos inside MSG have started to echo that same sentiment.

Cleveland continues to pull away from the pack. Boston and Milwaukee both have championship experience. Even with the addition of four-time NBA All-Star and 2015 No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns last October, it doesn’t quite feel like enough for New York.

Iron man or not, Bridges will have to reach career-best form this season should the Knicks expect to have a chance at representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals for the first time this century.