When the Brooklyn Nets made a historic trade with the New York Knicks, sending Mikal Bridges to their local rivals, it marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise. This move, the first trade between the teams in four decades, signals a shift towards a rebuilding phase for the Nets. Despite losing their best all-around player, General Manager Sean Marks is optimistic about the future, believing the rebuild will not be a prolonged one.
The Trade Details
Mikal Bridges was a key acquisition for the Nets in 2023 when they traded Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. Bridges’ performance was instrumental in leading Brooklyn to the playoffs that season. However, the recent trade with the Knicks was centered around accumulating draft picks rather than acquiring key players. The Nets received a significant haul: the Knicks’ first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031, the right to swap first-round picks in 2028, a first-round pick from Milwaukee in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2025.
Strategic Rebuilding
General Manager Sean Marks addressed the media, emphasizing that the rebuilding process will be strategic and not as lengthy as some might expect. “This build, do I think it’s going to take time? I mean, I think we’ll be strategic in it,” Marks said. “But I do think being in this market, with this amount of draft assets, we’ve done it before. And so again, I think, not that it’s going to be expedited by any means, but I don’t think it’s a long process, either.”
Trading Mikal Bridges to Knicks sends the Nets into a rebuild. Their GM doesn’t think it will be long one https://t.co/x7dBy5WEoY
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) July 8, 2024
The Path Forward
Marks highlighted the importance of self-assessment and sustainable success. “I think you have to look yourself in the mirror as an organization and sort of say what’s the best path for us moving forward here, and how do we do this and how do we have that sustainable success that we want,” Marks said. He believes the accumulation of draft assets over the past year positions the Nets well for long-term success.
Bridges’ Departure
Bridges’ departure is a significant loss for the Nets. He averaged 26.1 points from the time he joined the team at the 2023 deadline through the rest of that season. However, his performance dipped to 19.6 points per game in the 2023-24 season, during which the Nets finished with a 32-50 record and missed the playoffs. Marks clarified that the decision to trade Bridges was not a reflection of his performance or a result of a trade request from Bridges. “I think it’s been reported that Mikal wanted to leave or requested a trade. That could not be further from the truth,” Marks said. “That’s just not in Mikal’s character. That’s not who he is and that definitely did not happen. He was told by me when I called him and let him know that we’re at the 2-yard line.”
Knicks’ Gain
The trade reunites Bridges with his former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, potentially bolstering the Knicks’ chances in the Eastern Conference. This acquisition could make the Knicks a formidable contender, enhancing their roster with a player of Bridges’ caliber.
Nets’ New Direction
Conversely, the Nets may face a challenging season under new coach Jordi Fernandez. Marks was transparent with Fernandez about the possibility of trading Bridges and building through the draft. He also communicated this strategy to Nic Claxton before re-signing him. The Nets now have valuable draft picks and cap space, but lack a player of Bridges’ talent.
Marks compared the current situation to when he took over as GM in 2016, when the Nets lacked good draft assets due to the 2013 trade with Boston that brought Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn. That trade enabled the Celtics to draft Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, forming the core of their championship-winning team. Marks hopes to replicate a similar success by leveraging the draft picks acquired in the recent trade with the Knicks.
Future Outlook
Despite the difficult decision to trade Bridges, Marks is confident about the direction the team is heading. “It’s a difficult decision, because Mikal was the focal point of this organization for the last year since we did the trade,” Marks said. “So, not an easy decision, but at the same time when you have an offer like we did from New York, I think that sets us up on a very, very clear direction and pathway to continue to build this team to sustainable success and that’s the ultimate goal here.”
As the Nets embark on this rebuilding journey, they are armed with a wealth of draft assets and a clear strategy. While the immediate future may present challenges, the long-term outlook appears promising. The trade with the Knicks marks a pivotal moment for the Nets, setting the stage for a strategic rebuild aimed at achieving sustained success. The basketball world will be watching closely to see how this plan unfolds and whether the Nets can swiftly return to contention.