The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks could play in the identical state, however they’re removed from rivals. Even so, the Nets have accomplished an important job placing the Knicks right into a bind.
Bridges was a key member of final season’s Knicks workforce that went to the Japanese Convention Finals, their greatest season in 25 years. That being stated, the Knicks clearly overpaid to accumulate him.
They gave up a staggering 5 first-round picks within the deal to land Bridges, which raised eyebrows on the time, however Knicks followers had been simply glad to have a stacked roster. The commerce has paid off on the courtroom, however it has additionally hamstrung them too.
New York then chased a nasty choice by giving Bridges a 4-year, $150 million extension. That was probably agreed to after buying him and immediately makes the Knicks’ scenario far worse.
The Nets have sabotaged the Knicks’ possibilities of contending
Being out 5 firsts, six in case you embody the choose they gave up within the Karl-Anthony Cities commerce, is a large drawback for New York. They can not make one other huge commerce, say for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Or, on the very least, to make smaller strikes to bolster their roster. To the Knicks’ credit score, they did make a number of stable strikes to resolve their depth points. That features New York including Jordan Clarkson for the veteran minimal and Guerschon Yabusele.
That ought to give the Knicks a minimum of 9 dependable rotation gamers, that means they will not need to overrely on gamers comparable to Bridges. Fewer minutes ought to hopefully yield higher outcomes. Nonetheless, the Knicks will inevitably run into issues as a byproduct of the Bridges commerce.
The Knicks’ rumored pursuit of the Milwaukee Bucks famous person turns into just about unattainable and not using a tradeable first-round choose. They’d need to get extremely inventive by buying and selling Bridges or Karl-Anthony Cities for the property wanted to make a Giannis deal occur however that is a pipe dream due to the Nets
Finally, the Knicks will principally be regretting buying and selling 5 first-round picks to the Nets for Bridges. That transfer, and signing him to an enormous extension, would possibly’ve made them higher however would possibly preserve them from reaching the following degree.
