Mikal Bridges is on his way to Manhattan, set to join the New York Knicks and reunite with some of his former Villanova teammates.
In a trade announced Tuesday night by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets are sending Bridges to the Knicks. In return, the Nets will receive Bojan Bogdanovic and a substantial package of future draft picks, including four unprotected first-round selections.
This trade brings Bridges, a standout from his time at Villanova, back together with ex-Wildcats Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. Bridges, who won two national championships in his three seasons at Villanova, will now don the Knicks’ colors.
The Nets are acquiring unprotected first-round picks for 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031, as well as a protected first-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025, a second-round pick in 2025, and a protected pick swap in 2028, according to Wojnarowski.
Bridges, who averaged 19.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in his first full season with the Nets last year, has two years remaining on his four-year, $90.9 million contract.
Bojan Bogdanovic, 35, who joined the Knicks from the Detroit Pistons earlier this year, was instrumental in the Knicks’ playoff run, which ended in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second consecutive season. Bogdanovic averaged 10.4 points and two rebounds in 29 games off the bench.
The Nets, now led by head coach Jordi Fernández, finished last season with a 32-50 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018. With the influx of draft capital, they are positioned for a significant rebuild in the coming years.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are looking to make further moves this offseason, including potentially acquiring OG Anunoby. They hope that the addition of Bridges, alongside his former Villanova teammates, can propel them to the Eastern Conference finals, ending a 25-year drought.
Nets Restructure Draft Picks with Rockets Eyeing Durant
The Brooklyn Nets weren’t done trading.
Following the Bridges trade, the Nets restructured several draft picks with the Houston Rockets, according to Wojnarowski. This move is reportedly aimed at facilitating a future trade for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
While the Suns have not indicated a willingness to trade Durant, who is entering his 18th NBA season, the Rockets now possess the necessary draft capital to pursue such a deal. If acquiring Durant proves impossible, the Rockets are determined to use the picks aggressively for other major upgrades. Under first-year head coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets finished last season with a 41-41 record, narrowly missing the playoffs.
