{"id":162111,"date":"2025-10-10T11:17:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T15:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=162111"},"modified":"2025-10-10T11:20:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T15:20:18","slug":"mikal-bridges-trade-hurts-knicks-now-but-all-hope-isnt-lost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/10\/mikal-bridges-trade-hurts-knicks-now-but-all-hope-isnt-lost\/","title":{"rendered":"Mikal Bridges Trade Hurts Knicks Now, But All Hope Isn\u2019t Lost"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK \u2014 Four hundred sixty-one days ago, the Knicks<\/a> went all-in on their vision of the future. Their first all-in swing of the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson<\/a> era came when they traded for Mikal Bridges<\/a>. At the time, it felt like a bold move for a team eager to contend. Now, that boldness is starting to sting.<\/p>\n

Mikal Bridges Trade Hurts Knicks Now, But All Hope Isn\u2019t Lost<\/h2>\n
\"The
Mar 28, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) puts up a shot against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) and New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Knicks surrendered five first-round picks, a first-round swap, and a second-rounder to pry Bridges away from the Brooklyn Nets<\/a>. That haul alone made the deal hard to justify, even with Bridges\u2019 two-way reputation. It looked like a justifiable overpay but only in the short term. Fourteen months later, the Mikal Bridges trade has only gotten worse.<\/p>\n

The Resume Never Matched the Price<\/h3>\n

Bridges\u2019 defensive peak came in 2021\u201322, when he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and earned his only All-Defensive First Team selection. Since then, his production has plateaued. For a player without an All-Star appearance or major postseason r\u00e9sum\u00e9, four unprotected first-round picks always felt like too much.<\/p>\n

There was a rivalry tax. This was the first trade between the Knicks and Nets since 1983. But that still doesn\u2019t explain the scale of the overpay. The unprotected 2028 pick swap is the cherry on top of a deal that continues to age poorly.<\/p>\n

A Window Closes On Giannis<\/h3>\n

The consequences became glaring this offseason. According to reporting from Shams Charania of ESPN, Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> viewed the Knicks as the one team he\u2019d entertain a trade to amid his uncertain Bucks<\/a> future. Talks between the Knicks and in August didn\u2019t advance far.<\/p>\n

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New York emerged as the only team Giannis Antetokounmpo desired outside of Milwaukee in the offseason, sources told ESPN, and the Knicks and Bucks engaged in talks for a window of time.<\/p>\n

Inside the clouds leaving Giannis' future hanging in the balance: https:\/\/t.co\/yxcmDnzQ6K<\/a><\/p>\n

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n