NEW YORK — Four hundred sixty-one days ago, the Knicks went all-in on their vision of the future. Their first all-in swing of the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson era came when they traded for Mikal Bridges. At the time, it felt like a bold move for a team eager to contend. Now, that boldness is starting to sting.
Mikal Bridges Trade Hurts Knicks Now, But All Hope Isn’t Lost
The Knicks surrendered five first-round picks, a first-round swap, and a second-rounder to pry Bridges away from the Brooklyn Nets. That haul alone made the deal hard to justify, even with Bridges’ 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.
The Resume Never Matched the Price
Bridges’ defensive peak came in 2021–22, 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 résumé, four unprotected first-round picks always felt like too much.
There was a rivalry tax. This was the first trade between the Knicks and Nets since 1983. But that still doesn’t explain the scale of the overpay. The unprotected 2028 pick swap is the cherry on top of a deal that continues to age poorly.
A Window Closes On Giannis
The consequences became glaring this offseason. According to reporting from Shams Charania of ESPN, Giannis Antetokounmpo viewed the Knicks as the one team he’d entertain a trade to amid his uncertain Bucks future. Talks between the Knicks and in August didn’t advance far.
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.
Inside the clouds leaving Giannis’ future hanging in the balance: https://t.co/yxcmDnzQ6K
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 7, 2025
The reason was simple: Milwaukee didn’t like New York’s offer. The Knicks needed to match salaries with a combination of Bridges, OG Anunoby, and/or Karl-Anthony Towns. They could offer veterans but not draft capital. The Bridges trade had already cleaned out their first-round pick chest.
Leverage Remains, If They’re Smart
Still, all hope isn’t lost. Giannis has already handed the Knicks a gift by making New York his preferred destination. That alone gives the front office leverage in negotiations. The Bucks’ lack of control over their own first-round picks until 2031 forces them to prioritize staying competitive.
That’s where the Knicks can strike. They may lack picks, but they can offer win-now players like Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns. Those names could matter for a franchise like Milwaukee that can’t afford a full rebuild.
The Path Forward
The Knicks’ decision to pay a historic price for Bridges is already biting back. It has narrowed their options and closed some doors. But it hasn’t locked them out entirely.
They have leverage, star power, and a preferred trade destination working in their favor. The Mikal Bridges trade may have gotten worse, but it doesn’t have to define this era. How the front office responds will.
Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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