The Brooklyn Nets have secured veteran guard Shake Milton in a significant sign-and-trade deal with the New York Knicks, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Milton’s contract spans three years, totaling $9 million, with only the first year guaranteed for the 2024-25 season, as reported by Charania.
This transaction forms part of the Knicks’ broader trade involving Mikal Bridges, who is heading to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bojan Bogdanović and multiple NBA draft picks.
“The Knicks were keen on expanding the Bridges trade,” stated Fred Katz of The Athletic, citing sources from within the league. “They meticulously planned various scenarios to navigate around the hard cap at the first apron. Upon the initial agreement with the Nets, New York indicated their intention to return with additional details.”
Milton, previously with the Detroit Pistons before joining the Knicks midseason, had a limited role in New York, averaging 4.5 minutes per game in the regular season and 5.5 minutes across four playoff appearances, contributing a total of 16 points.
Full Mikal Bridges Knicks Trade:
Knicks Receive:
• Mikal Bridges
• Keita Bates-DiopNets Receive:
• Bojan Bogdanovic
• Shake Milton
• 4 Unprotected First Round Picks
• 1 Protected First Round Pick
• 1 Pick Swap pic.twitter.com/MhUk85nnSb— NYKNICKSNEWS (@NYKNICKSMEDIA) July 4, 2024
However, Milton’s inclusion in the trade was pivotal for the Knicks to bridge the salary gap of approximately $4.2 million between Bridges and Bogdanović for the upcoming season.
The sign-and-trade arrangement sending Milton to Brooklyn enables the Knicks to maneuver their salary commitments strategically, thus avoiding constraints imposed by the salary cap’s first apron, according to insights from SNY’s Ian Begley and CapSheets’ Yossi Gozlan.
In return, the Knicks are set to receive Mikal Bridges and veteran forward Keita Bates-Diop, enhancing their roster depth.
Meanwhile, the Nets are poised to acquire Bogdanović, Milton, and Mamadi Diakite, bolstering their squad with additional draft assets. These assets include four unprotected first-round picks spanning 2025 to 2031, a protected first-round pick in 2025, a second-round pick in 2025, and an unprotected pick swap in 2028, reported NBA.com.
Mikal Bridges
Despite the trade negotiations, the Knicks were resolute in retaining backup guard Miles McBride, who signed a multi-year extension in December. According to Ian Begley, McBride’s robust performance last season, averaging 8.3 points per game across 68 appearances and elevating to 11.0 points in 13 postseason games, underscores his significance within the team’s depth chart.
Looking ahead, McBride is expected to play a pivotal role as the Knicks strive to advance beyond the second round in the upcoming season.
This deal underscores a strategic maneuver by both franchises, aimed at optimizing their roster compositions and competitive standings in the NBA landscape.