O Knicks are one Boston Celtics win away from the official start of the offseason. This year, teams can talk to their own free agents the day after the NBA Finals ends. So if the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks can start negotiations with OG Anunoby, Isaiah Hartenstein, Precious Achiuwaand its other free agents on Saturday. They can also start negotiating extensions with Jalen Brunson It is Julio Randle after the finals are over.
Once again, New York enters the offseason well-positioned for a significant trade. The club has three picks in the top 38 of the 2024 NBA Draftall of your future first-round picks and the rights to three additional first-round players.
If the Knicks want to upgrade their roster this offseason or in the future (they do), a trade is the most likely option. With that in mind, we took a look at the math behind a Mikal Bridges trade down (as unlikely as it may be) and put together some packages that would work within NBA trade guidelines with the help of Yossi Gozlan, who has one Extremely informative YouTube page if you want to know more about the implications of the teams cap.
WOULD THE NETWORKS EVER TRADE BRIDGES?
The short answer, in my opinion, is no. I think the answer will continue to be “no” as long as Sean Marcos is the biggest decision maker in Brooklyn basketball.
Recent history has it that Bridges will remain in Brooklyn for the foreseeable future: the Nets have consistently rejected teams interested in trading for Bridges. They rejected offers with significant draft compensation (more than four first-round picks in at least one case, according to league sources). To be fair, we don’t know the value of these first-round picks (i.e.: pick protections, projections, etc.).
But the Nets have consistently rejected these offers, which is clear evidence that they want to build around Bridges. Also, why would Marks trade the best player he received in the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving business?
A Bridges trade likely means another major rebuild. At this point, would Marks have the runway to execute a full-scale rebuild? I don’t see that. The Nets, who still prioritize re-signing free agents Nick Claxton, could likely delay the 2024-25 season. But they will need to be competitive again under Marks after the summer of 2025. They project to have significant cap space in the offseason.
So there is ample evidence that Brooklyn will keep Bridges for the foreseeable future. As a hypothetical, let’s say things go bad for the Nets next season and they change course on Bridges. The Knicks should be able to make him a competitive offer. Would the Knicks and Nets actually execute a trade? Seems unlikely. But it’s helpful to take a look at the parameters of a potential Bridges deal because they also apply to other players earning similar salaries.
Let’s start with Bojan Bogdanovic. His contract is currently guaranteed for $2 million. It will be fully guaranteed at $19 million on June 28. If you’re considering a significant trade, the Knicks’ decision on Bogdanovic is critical.
Here’s Gozlan: “I think it makes sense to keep him and secure him for next season if the Knicks feel like there’s a trade for an All-Star on the horizon. Julio RandleThe company’s $28.9 million allows them to match virtually anyone. If Bogdanovic leaves, they will likely need to trade Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinsonor even try to engage Precious Achiuwa in a subscription and exchange to get enough money to send.
DOING SALARY MATCHING?
If the Knicks re-sign Anunoby and Hartenstein and keep Bogdanovic, they will likely surpass their first cap for 2024-25 ($178 million). In that scenario, they would need to send more money in a trade for Bridges than they would get back.
Trading Randle’s $28.9 million (and preliminary compensation) for Bridges’ $23.3 million is the easiest way to make a trade work next season, regardless of the Knicks’ apron situation.
If the Knicks decided to release Bogdanovic and re-sign Anunoby and Hartenstein, they would likely end up on the first apron. In that scenario, the Knicks could get back more salary than they are sending in a trade.
Here’s Gozlan: “If done on (or after) July 1, the Knicks would only need to receive $7,775,000 of Bridges’ $23.3 million salary. Therefore, they would need to send $15.5 million A combination of Mitchell Robinson and one of his minimum players as. Daquan Jeffries, Mamadi Diakitéor Jericho Sims (and the offset project) would work.”
This trade would limit the Knicks on the first apron in 2024-25. It would also likely be necessary for a third team to acquire Robinson because Brooklyn will likely have Claxton at center.
The Knicks could make the math work on a Bridges trade if they sent a Bogdanovic-centric package and worked out compensation.
They could send Bogdanovic, work out compensation and an additional $4.3 million to satisfy NBA trade rules. The Knicks could get there by including Jeffries’ $2.5 million and Sims’ $2.1 million.
Here’s Gozlan: “(In Bogdanovic’s scenario), the Knicks would be severely limited to the second apron. But it should be possible to field a lineup below (the second apron) with (Jalen) Brunson, Randle, Anunoby, Bridges, (Josh) Hart , Donte (DiVincenzo), Hartenstein, Mitchell (Robinson) and (Miles) McBride.”
Of course, the compensation project is key to any deal for Bridges.
The Knicks will be able to trade a maximum of seven first-round picks at the 2025 trade deadline (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031 and the first ones owed by Milwaukee, Detroit and Washington).
Again, as unlikely as it may be, the math surrounding a Bridges trade is instructive because it applies to other players earning similar salaries. Players like Kyle Kuzma, Andrew WigginsIt is bruce brown are close to Bridges’ 2024-25 salary.
