OT: Mikal Bridges Traded to the Knicks

[bendm]

Achiuwa is definitely gone, they can't afford him. They only have ~$41M in cap space before signing OG and any of their 3 draft picks

idk how much OG is going to get but achiuwa was only getting $4mill. regardless they just need a serviceable backup big then

 

[KingAG]

Achiuwa is definitely gone, they can't afford him. They only have ~$41M in cap space before signing OG and any of their 3 draft picks

He’s restricted. They can match any offer. They’re over the second apron anyway

 

[Zissou]

So any chance Jay might be interested in reliving some memories as well?

I don’t think so. 1) he has said too often that he no longer has the needed drive; 2) maybe he could have had the job a year or two ago, but Thibs has earned the role for next year.

 

[navery12]

He’s restricted. They can match any offer. They’re over the second apron anyway

They took back more money than they sent out in the Bridges deal (as it's currently reported). They're hard capped at $178M and can't go above it even to match an Achiuwa offer

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I think Brunson is every bit as good as Tatum. Call me crazy. I also think Mikel and OG would give Tatum and Brown fits

Mitch is the issue here. He isn’t guarding Kristaps on the wing without fouling, and they don’t have a viable backup right now.

This team is built to play the C’s but the C’s are still a better team.

 

[Zissou]

Has anything close to this happened before? A NCAA champs team reconnecting as an NBA team?

 

[KemBuckets21]

randle and robinson are both under long term contracts and projected starters. theyre going to resign OG and Achiuwa is a restricted free agent. the only starter that's gone is hartenstein.

Brunson- McBride
Bridges- DD
Anunoby- Hart
Randle
Robinson- Achiuwa

that's a better top 9 than Boston

Certainly deeper, and they matchup well. Don't see a lot of shooting in the starting 5 if they do in fact keep Robinson and Randle. Teams are going to be navigating towards as many 5 out lineups as they can. I also don't like Bridges or Anunoby as secondary facilitators, so Randle might actually help in that regard in order to maximize Brunson's shot making skills.

Randle is not under long term contract, He has one year left and a player option for 25-26.

Mitchell has two years left at ~ 12m

This is not how anyone would define long term. I think they'll look to move one or both of these guys.

 

[KingAG]

Mitch is the issue here. He isn’t guarding Kristaps on the wing without fouling, and they don’t have a viable backup right now.

This team is built to play the C’s but the C’s are still a better team.

Going small with Randle at the 5(Brunson, Divo/Hart, Bridges, OG, Randle) solves that problem and maximizes the talent. Thibs just won’t do it

 

[bendm]

Certainly deeper, and they matchup well. Don't see a lot of shooting in the starting 5 if they do in fact keep Robinson and Randle. Teams are going to be navigating towards as many 5 out lineups as they can. I also don't like Bridges or Anunoby as secondary facilitators, so Randle might actually help in that regard in order to maximize Brunson's shot making skills.

Randle is not under long term contract, He has one year left and a player option for 25-26.

Mitchell has two years left at ~ 12m

This is not how anyone would define long term. I think they'll look to move one or both of these guys.

long term = not on an expiring contract. i dont see them acquiring a starting PF and C in any trade(s) involving randle or robinson which is what they would need. the time for accumulating assets is over the knicks clearly just signaled that they are going for it.

 

[KemBuckets21]

long term = not on an expiring contract. i dont see them getting front court starters back for randle or robinson which is what they would need. the time for accumulating assets is over they are going for it.

Not saying they're not going for it, I'm saying I think they comb the league for players that could be better floor spacing threats.

 

[bendm]

Not saying they're not going for it, I'm saying I think they comb the league for players that could be better floor spacing threats.

ok i can see them playing OJ as a stretch PF and starting Hart at SF so then there are two possible trade options:

1) they trade randle for two quality bench players including a backup big
starters= brunson / bridges / hart / oj / robinson
bench = mcbride / DD / bench / bench

2) they bundle randle and robinson for an elite starting center and a backup big.
starters= brunson / bridges / hart / oj / starter
bench= mcbride / DD / bench

option 2 would be better if they can find a suitable trade partner, but who....

 

[navery12]

So what's the hope for the Knicks at 24 and 25 tonight for everyone? My dream is Tyler Kolek at 24 and Da'Ron Holmes at 25. Also intrigued by Scheierman, Missi, Ware

 

[CardiacAndre7]

So what's the hope for the Knicks at 24 and 25 tonight for everyone? My dream is Tyler Kolek at 24 and Da'Ron Holmes at 25. Also intrigued by Scheierman, Missi, Ware

Was just saying to my buddies, Holmes/Ware should be priority 1. Really like Holmes’ versatility as a counter to Mitch, just not sure how he will be defensively against 5s.

 

[navery12]

Was just saying to my buddies, Holmes/Ware should be priority 1. Really like Holmes’ versatility as a counter to Mitch, just not sure how he will be defensively against 5s.

Yeah that's the question with him, hopefully Thibs would be able to coach him up on defense. I've resigned myself to Ryan Dunn being one of the picks, he seems like a prototypical Thibs guy

 

[bendm]

So what's the hope for the Knicks at 24 and 25 tonight for everyone? My dream is Tyler Kolek at 24 and Da'Ron Holmes at 25. Also intrigued by Scheierman, Missi, Ware

bundle their two 1st rounders and trade up for Edey

 

[navery12]

 

[superjohn]

Holy cow, that's a lot of money. Knicks will be loaded though.

 

[aceboon]

$42.5Ms, yeesh. Lets see how his body holds up now, dude gotta bad track record but if healthy OG and Bridges defensively on the wings is as good as it gets

 

[caw]

I don’t think so. 1) he has said too often that he no longer has the needed drive; 2) maybe he could have had the job a year or two ago, but Thibs has earned the role for next year.

Sorry not clear on internet, was mostly written tongue in cheek.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I've really liked what the Knicks have done so far in the last 24 hours.

Acquiring Bridges solidifies their two-year title window for now and while giving up all the first round picks seems like a lot, they then flip the 24th pick for five second round picks between the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons.

We'll see how they add for depth spots w/ their two second round picks tonight.

 

[Huskyforlife]

“Better” is a strange way to look at it for me.

They are absolutely designed to neutralize them.

Boston is a bit of a paper tiger to me. They beat for the most part a Mitch-less cavs, Jimmy-less heat, and for the most part a Halliburton-less pacers. Extremely lucky. They handled their business against Dallas so they deserve to be respected.
However I don’t believe they are this juggernaut. I think healthy the Knicks would’ve took them to 6-7 games this season.

But just for the fun of it:

Brunson - Holiday
Bridges - White
OG - Brown
Randle - Tatum
Robinson - Porzingis
Divencenzo - pritchard
Hart - Horford
McBride - Hauser
Achiuwa- ?

Didn't see this response since the thread got moved.

I think my original point still stands. 5 first round picks for a guy who still doesn't elevate you above the Celtics is a massive overpay imo. I'd only give up those assets for a top 20 guy.

Also for the sake of comparison, in order of 'best players.'

Tatum>Brunson
Brown>OG
Jrue=Bridges
White>Randle (In the role of the 4th man/connective piece/defensive role player. I understand Randle is the better scorer in a vacuum, but games aren't played in a vacuum)
Porzingis(healthy)>Hart or Robinson
Knicks bench>Celtics bench

The most favorable thing I can say is at least yall will be challenging the East for the next 3-5 years with this group. Maybe Boston has a bad injury one year and yall can beat whoever comes out of the west.

Also glad Dan won't be taking this job in that 3-5 year window.

 

[KingAG]

Didn't see this response since the thread got moved.

I think my original point still stands. 5 first round picks for a guy who still doesn't elevate you above the Celtics is a massive overpay imo. I'd only give up those assets for a top 20 guy.

Also for the sake of comparison, in order of 'best players.'

Tatum>Brunson
Brown>OG
Jrue=Bridges
White>Randle (In the role of the 4th man/connective piece/defensive role player. I understand Randle is the better scorer in a vacuum, but games aren't played in a vacuum)
Porzingis(healthy)>Hart or Robinson
Knicks bench>Celtics bench

The most favorable thing I can say is at least yall will be challenging the East for the next 3-5 years with this group. Maybe Boston has a bad injury one year and yall can beat whoever comes out of the west.

Also glad Dan won't be taking this job in that 3-5 year window.

Only spot I really disagree on is Jalen Brunson was clearly better than Tatum this season and post season. Doesn’t mean it’ll continue. But he was.

 

[knicksin7]

A lot of NJ Nets fans still follow the team (a buddy of mine living in Westchester has a ticket package) and a lot of people in Brooklyn who weren't big Knicks fans have adopted them. I see more Nets merch in Brooklyn than I see Knicks merch, honestly. (I repeat: in Brooklyn.) It was pretty electric when they got KG & Pierce (and later when they got KD and Kyrie).

Attendance hasn't been bad, although tickets numbers are always unreliable:

The Brooklyn Nets report nearly 99% attendance at Barclays Center home games. However, gate count and *paid* tickets unclear.

In the past NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets dropped in attendance rank from eleventh to 21st, according to ESPN, but only saw a fractional dec...

atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com

Selfishly, I'm an 8-minute walk away from Barclays, so I'd like them to be competitive. When my kids are older, I'd like to go more frequently.

And I get that you're just roasting the Nets but they won 2 ABA titles after your team last won an NBA title.

Hey man, I'm just excited after 25 years. Give me a break please!

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Even more reason to root for the Knicks next year.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Even more reason to root for the Knicks next year.

Incredibly unselfish. Hopefully they achieve their goals though. If they don’t, that’s a LOT of money to leave on the table.

 

[superjohn]

Even more reason to root for the Knicks next year.

He's such a stud.

 

[navery12]

Ridiculously unselfish move by Brunson, and sets him up for $400M+ on his next contract which is wild

 

[mauconnfan]

Only spot I really disagree on is Jalen Brunson was clearly better than Tatum this season and post season. Doesn’t mean it’ll continue. But he was.

Clearly better post season absolutely agree. Regular season no, not clearly call that a draw.

 

[KingAG]

Clearly better post season absolutely agree. Regular season no, not clearly call that a draw.

That’s fair. He did finish higher than Tatum in MVP voting. And put up better numbers

 

[navery12]

Hopefully doesn't mean Deuce is being traded for a backup C, but that's my guess on a next move