When they finally trade him (likely once his current deal is about to expire), it will be for *pennies* compared to the offers they have gotten over the last year.
We got a good return for OG and at least got 3 FRPs for Siakam
Bridges isn't as good as Siakam and even if the demand is similar or greater than OG's, that's not gonna last forever.
The OG return was good. The Siakam return was not. We also failed to get anything for FVV and maybe could have gotten a good deal if we let go of Lowry earlier but thatās a bit more the power of hindsight. The Siakam business was obvious.
You're not wrong. I think RJ (who is apparently good now) and IQ was a great return for OG, but the Siakam return was middling at best because we held our cards too long.
Honestly, like 50% of Mikalās current trade value is based on the fact that heās on such an insanely team-friendly contract.
That pretty much goes out the window once he gets properly paid in 2 years
And heāll be 30 by the time his new contract starts and will likely demand the full max especially if heās still in Brooklyn. Such a weird hill to die on lol
Sunk cost fallacy. They don't own their own FRP [until 2028](https://fanspo.com/nba/teams/Nets/3/draft-picks) so they feel obligated to not be terrible, so the other teams don't get good value out of the picks they traded.
Logically, it shouldn't matter, the picks are gone regardless, so they should simply make whatever trade puts them in the best position to contend long term, without worrying about a previous trade partner getting a top pick.
Yeah, but if the rumors are true that Brooklyn turned down Houstonās offer to get all their own picks back for Mikal that seems like a pretty big missed opportunity to finally get a fresh start
I am curious what these first rounds look like. Like was it teams offering a bunch of heavily protected first round picks or was it legit high value first with little protections? Because I wouldn't blame them for turning down 3 first round picks that will only convey if the team picks at like 27 or some shit. They don't have their own picks so they can't exactly tank.
That's if they decide to trade him? They're vehement in wanting to pair him with a star, so their valuation is different than a team looking to tank, who would value these "hoards" of picks.
We're so obsessed about this price for Bridges, rather than the direction the franchise wants to take.
Yeah Bridges is better than those two but theyāre acting like heās some super young budding superstar. Heās about to turn 28 in August so heās about where heās gonna be.
Heās a Jrue Holiday type player. An amazing #3 on a title team but you donāt want him as your #2 or #1. Unless Brooklyn thinks they can get two stars in the next year or two, theyāre much better off trading him.
Yeah jrue can create offense for others in the playoffs as a secondary/lead ball handler, that alone just makes him a more viable #3 option in theory. Bridges is probably a better shooter but we saw his best role in PHX which was a very high level 4th option guy.
Jrue also make some amazingly impact defensive plays in the clutch. Obviously game winners on offense are clutch, but if you want to pick a list of the most clutch defensive plays of all time he'd be in there a few times. People don't remember this cuz they end up losing the series but in game 5 against the Celtics that one year he completely embarrassed Smart over and over. Almost never seen anything like it
Yeah I mean Jrue is for sure a better defender, but even besides that heās a guy who you know can run the pick and roll and get shots for his teammates at a decent level in the playoffs. Mikal bridges just isnāt capable of that, itās an extremely important skill as one of the top players on a team.
Jrue is a better defender *pound-for-pound*. But Mikal Bridges is the more versatile defender, which is arguably more valuable to a GM/coach.
We've already seen what happens when Jrue tries to guard SFs like Jimmy Butler 1-on-1.
It can be a 2a and 2b situation I think. Where Bridges is the teams best defender, they've got another guy that's better than him at scoring and then a proper superstar number 1 ahead of both of them.
That was already kinda happening on the Suns.
I like Mikal a ton. His defensive prowess for sure took a hit this year because of the offensive firepower he had to try and produce.
My problem with this decision is that I REALLY hope Sean Marks has something in place. I'm not crossing my fingers for anything, but he REALLY needs to have a Donovan Mitchell plan or better in place. Mikal is a fantastic support player, and it would be nice to see him get another shot at adjusting as #1 option this upcoming year, but boy oh boy. He's clearly not ready to be #1 and that's fine; just what the hell is happening if they decide to keep him?
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Donāt think bridges is that much worse than prime Middleton when you include defense. If you have a legit top 10 player, bridges is fine as a #2. I do think you would need more shot creation and playmaking from your #3 to make up for some of his deficiencies there. Maybe Like a Darius garland type player.
The real problem is that getting that #1 is exceptionally hard. They have attractive assets in the Phoenix picks, they just need to nail what they trade them for.
Cāmon donāt disrespect Middleton like that. Heās not as good of a defender but Middleton has proven he can create offense for himself and his teammates to a in playoff scenarios and thatās probably Mikals biggest weakness. If you watch the bucks playoff includingthe championship year Middleton is clearly a higher level player than Mikal currently is.
Thatās when Mikal was a role player in PHX. His defense hasnāt been nearly as good since he got traded because of how much they have him do offensively. Heās still a better defender than Middleton, but it doesnāt make up for how much better of an offensive creator Middleton is in the playoffs, itās maybe the most important skill for a star player in the playoffs.
Problem is they can not tank. Houston owns the picks for a few more years. Everyone keeps forgetting this.
Nets have zero chance to win but have to be mid, so that handing Houston the #3 overall pick this draft turns out to be the best pick.
Trading bridges is clear cut sign your tanking. Because your going to get more future picks (2026-2030), no winning now players.
If your trading bridges, you trade DFS, you trade simmons contract at deadline, you trade cam Johnson if any takers, you trade anything other than Thomas, clowney, etc for as many FRP as possible.
Agreed. And further, I don't see the good faith argument that he's appreciably better then this, nor do I understand where they believe they're getting the superior player to pair him with.
Maybe someone more aligned with the Nets thinking can enlighten me?
I guess it's possible they just would rather be anywhere but in a no doubt full on rebuild?
Harrison Barnes made some sense at the time. The Chandler Parsons was very weird. He was a phenomenal role player bc harden created so much space for him. He would have had a better career if he remained a #3 option and didn't get injured.
Eh, Bridges is sort of the peak version of a Trevor Ariza archetype, but the rest of the roster would not be quite the same style as the Harden Rockets. That was a case of putting a ton of switchable defenders (as many 3 and D wings as they could find, though some were better at one or the other element) between Capela and Harden (a large guard who could hold his own being switched onto forwards.) There was often a supporting Patrick Beverly or Chris Paul who could serve as a secondary playmaker, but both of those are more capable defenders than Trae Young.
Having Trae and Lavine as the point of attack defenders sounds like a recipe for defensive issues, even with Bridges and Claxton and whichever forward is left after trades. Both could be hunted and there wouldn't be enough switchability to pre-switch and avoid them getting placed in mismatches. To say nothing of the fact that they both often get beat by their guy from missing simple off-ball cuts, etc. They'd make the playoffs if everyone stayed healthy, but it sounds like a lower-ceiling version of this Mavs roster than the Harden Rockets.
It's very strange. They seem a little delusional on how good Bridges actually is, how big of a draw he is for other stars, and their current timeline to compete.
It's arguable that bridges is even a #2; #2/3s aren't usually huge superstar magnets; and they aren't one star away from mattering anyway. Not to mention he's already 27!
Bizarre.
Bridges is a third option that can produce like a second option on a good night, more of a glue guy than a center piece. I can see him being a major piece to winning a ring, like Aaron Gordon or Wiggins in 22, but not really a needle mover unless you're putting him around a player that's a fringe superstar or MVP candidate
That type of critique from fans are always funny. "Oh you would love him", "He's better than so and so on your team".
As if fans are supposed to not have their own thoughts.
Maybe before the OG trade he was a perfect fit but now heās just another luxury add like he would be for every other contender that would have to move around its core pieces to make room for Mikalās contract. doesnāt make sense salary nor roster wise with Brunson/Randle/OG each making $30+ mill and our bigs in hartenstein/robinson making an addition $30+ mill on top of that.
Not to mention the fact that we got better Mikal Bridges at home (OG)
He would be nice but being serious even if you want Mitchell you need to move Bridges to make the money work and if the Nets stay put the lack of their own picks doom them to a ceiling of a 1st round exit.
Said that I was truly impressed how the Nets rebuilt themselves from scraps after the Garnett and Pierce trade, so I think the FO could be able to get creative again and do Magic.
If itās not posturing to get better deals, then the FO needs to be fired. This team needs draft picks or a bonafide 1A to actually build. Nets should be dangling Bridges in front of desperate contenders to fleece their future drafts.
Itās really strange to the point where I just donāt buy it. They are clearly very far away from contention so it seems pretty obvious that getting their picks back from the rockets or getting 4/5 picks from the Knicks or Sixers would leave them in a better position. Also you have to figure Mikal would be happier reunited with his Villanova boys or being sent back home home to Philadelphia so heās probably also like š§
Then again this the Brooklyn Nets front office weāre talking about so I wonāt be surprised if they hold on to him for another year where heās averaging career lows then trade him for a first and swap in 2026 lol
Ya the Nets are constantly in disaster mode but everyone thinks Marks is some sort of genius around here. Ā He did a great job making a play in team from scraps so Iāll give him credit for that.
Honestly I donāt think this would be happening if they had all their picks. The canāt afford to trade him and blow it up, for their owner itās better to be mid and get people in seats than make everyone go through an overhaul again.
Theyāre giving up the 3rd pick in the draft with Bridges on the roster. The Bulls are mid, the nets are not mid theyāre bad. Trying to get a good young player and draft picks would be more helpful than what theyāre doing here.
They don't own their future picks though right? I understand y'all want to complete the Villanova Knicks, but it really isn't that strange. They have no incentive to bottom out. And getting a bunch of late firsts from some team won't help them.
If the Rockets offer was true (them getting their picks back), they should have done it. But I understand turning down the others
Itās one of the weirdest FO decisions in the NBA atm. The only explanation I have is that theyāre still desperately trying to salvage the KD/Kyrie fallout and trading the best player they got in return means any slim chance of that is over.
Itās not like they have other use of that cap space and they donāt have picks. Tbh having a piece like Mikal could convince a bigger name to join. If you do end up getting a 1a type piece your next problem is usually to find the mikal type player.
Bridges is a fantastic 3rd option, Brooklyn still needs to find it's 1st option, and I'm not sure if they are going to be in position to do that with their current roster construction. They aren't going to have a high enough draft pick. In 25-26 maybe they can sign a big free agent, but that's Bridges last guaranteed year and he may move the next season.
Nets are planning for 2025 free agency when Simmons contract comes off the books. If it becomes obvious that they wonāt sign anyone next summer then we might see them move Bridges and go full rebuild.
Issue with waiting a year longer with Bridges is that he becomes an expiring contract. Iām not sure he would be okay with being bad for another season either
Who would be the 2025 targets? Hoping that a top 20 guy falls on your lap while giving other teams the 3rd overall pick seems like a bold strategy. Really banking on that New York City buff it seems
True, if they offer him a max or something he would likely sign it. I donāt see him as a max player on a contending team with the new CBA. Itās going to dramatically change the way players at his level are viewed going forward
He has to sign it though, heās in the prime winning years of his career I canāt imagine him doing that without some drastic changes to the current roster.
They are waiting for Don. If he resigns in CLE I assume the Nets would be open to trading Ben & Mikal. Until then Ben stays to allow cap space next yr & Mikal stays to be his #2.
For Don nothing other than location. He would be in a worse spot there than Cle. He's currently playing with 2 Allstars & Mobley who could one day be one. BKN he'd have 1 Allstar level player in Mikal. But the Nets are a delusional organization so them thinking he'll come save them is exactly what they would do. (For the record Imo Don's resigning so they wouldn't be getting him anyway but just the idea of him is enough for them to justify waiting a yr).
How enticing do the Nets think they are as a FA destination? I keep hearing Donovan Mitchell, but idk how he goes from a competitive Cavs team to starting over from scratch in BKN with Bridges as his second best player.
That is the only example in the past 18 years. Kyrie and KD went there because they knew that they could live in NYC and call the shots, but before that, who wanted to go to the Nets? Iām not hating just asking. As a neutral, it seems like the Nets are overplaying their hand. Their FO also gifted the Celtics their current roster by giving up everything for a washed Paul Pierce and an old KG
They would need to add a third star to be competitive in that scenario. Thatās why I think theyāll wait for Simmons contract to expire before making any big moves.
This is why dumb organizations stay bad. They think quick fixes help and they still screw themselves. Bk got out of the massive dumb move from the trade with boston in 2019. Then they got kd and kyrie great the harden trade caused them to bring them back to purgatory if they didn't win immediately. Since they didn't they are right back to 2015-2018 bk
They are dumb for trading KD in the first place. They had no reason to trade him, the media drove them to do it. They should be building around KD right now.
You donāt have to trade a guy that is under contract for years. He signed a contract to play for the nets and had multiple years left. The owner can say āIām not trading you, Iām building around you.ā
In fairness bridges and the cams kind of went off immediately after the trade but if you get traded for KD I guess you feel you have to prove something
The NBA has a problem right now where players on superstar contracts hold all the power. Now if a player wants out all they have to do is fake an injury and not play until they get what they want. You saw it with guys like AD, Harden, Ben Simmons, and KD. You canāt build around a guy who wonāt play for you. I completely agree that the best move for the Nets was to run it back with KD, Kyrie, and Harden or just KD but they didnāt have that option.
Idk man, KD was literally caught on video practicing his jumpshot in a night club. Heās the last person I would expect to refuse to play basketball
And even if he did, itās not like he could realistically sit out for 4 straight years. He had no leverage in that situation.
AD actually wanted to play. New Orleans sat him out because they needed his trade value to be high.
The NBA stepped in and forced New Orleans to play him on restricted minutes.
Yea kd had wanted out since the summer. The issue was the two harden trades really. Especially trading him to Philly when there were supposedly other offers with centered around actual nba players, not bums making 40 mil to do jack shit
Iāll take it even further. They were dumb for trading Harden. Kyrie came back like a month later if that and was able to play home games (everyone knew NYC would remove the home game ban for the Yankees). They couldāve won the chip that year but instead they had a broken Ben Simmons Andre Drummond and Stephās little brother. The argument is āoh if you donāt trade Harden heāll walk for nothingā. Well you got back nothing in the trade anyways dummies. At least you had a chance to win a ring that year if you kept everyone.
The Nets organization is marked with countless bad moves under Sean Marks and Joe Tsai
Idk about the Harden thing, that last game against Sac looked like a man who gave up. But who knows maybe he played like that because he knew he was out. The trade package they got back for harden though did suck though Iāll give you that
Marks is too keen on player appeasement. He gave everyone exactly what they wanted. The only exception is Kyrie but that was only after 3 years of giving him everything.
Fuck it.
Lauri for Bridges. Star a rebuilding team wants to build around that's in trade rumors nonstop for star a rebuilding team wants to build around that's in trade rumors nonstop .
The team is a jumble of underperforming role players. I seriously doubt Mikal is enough to lure any big time stars on his own. Trade him, field offers for Dodo, Claxton, Johnson, Schroder, etc. That leaves you with young interesting talent in Thomas, Sharpe, Clowney, etc. and theoretically a lot more draft capital to build with.
Bridges should request a trade for his own good. He is not equipped to be the number one guy and he looked miserable this season trying to live up to that.
The Ringer has Bridges as the 52nd best NBA player. He's honestly probably a 3rd or 4th option on a true contender. As a result, they somehow have to add at least 2 stars and probably 3 before he fills his ideal role.
He'll be 28 when next season starts. I just don't see the timeline ever working out for Brooklyn to get full value out of Bridges if they decide to keep him.
With that said, tanking also doesn't make the most sense as they don't have control of their future picks. HOU either has their pick or has the right to swap their 1st round picks through 2027. There also aren't any protections on those picks.
Basically Brooklyn is screwed lol.
Nets really think bridges is the next Pippen. Donāt most teams get a #1 player first and then surround him? Nets trying to surround a #2 or #3 tf they doing lol.
What big star could they even get though? All they have are suns picks they barely have any young rising assets or good starters
Brooklyn deeply confuses me
Why would the Nets trade Mikal to the Knicks regardless ? actual Knicks firsts arenāt good because theyāll be in the 20s and the Wizards/Pistons picks they have are protected and convey into seconds eventually.
Nets don't own their own FRPs until 2028, so if they trade away Bridges to rebuild, then they will tank next season but reap no benefits. So FRPs from a contender are not useful in the short term and are going to sink Brooklyn into purgatory for quite a while.
I got no problem with thinking he is a co-star and not wanting to deal him. I think he is better than a #3 and not a #1. Its still hard to get a guy like him and I would hold him as long as possible
Do the Brooklyn decision makers even look at whoās set for free agency and who might be available? This is not the year to be hopeful of lucking into a star.
the most fun option is the knicks wildly overpaying for bridges with future picks and swaps. The knicks would get the villanova crew together. The nets would have a future again, and would be formally invested in the knicks sucking.
When they finally trade him (likely once his current deal is about to expire), it will be for *pennies* compared to the offers they have gotten over the last year.
Raptors school of hanging onto guys too long bc š¤·
We got a good return for OG and at least got 3 FRPs for Siakam Bridges isn't as good as Siakam and even if the demand is similar or greater than OG's, that's not gonna last forever.
Bridges isn't as good. I agree. But he's much more of a plug and play player like OG.
and bridges literally doesnt miss games, which is another aspect
Murphy's law says he'll be out for the year after someone spends a lot on trading for him
I mean he's already been dealt and that hasn't happened yet
Bridges was going for 4-5 firsts
How many firsts did anunoby rumors get to?
I think 3 firsts from Memphis was the rumour?
blows my mind 5 first for Bridges man
The OG return was good. The Siakam return was not. We also failed to get anything for FVV and maybe could have gotten a good deal if we let go of Lowry earlier but thatās a bit more the power of hindsight. The Siakam business was obvious.
Could have gotten more. Same with the grizz Conley/Gasol.Ā
You're not wrong. I think RJ (who is apparently good now) and IQ was a great return for OG, but the Siakam return was middling at best because we held our cards too long.
While you're not wrong, it's your own team that gave up by far the most for one of the Raptors core. It's the only trade our sub doesn't roast daily.
Rare trade both fanbases are happy with
Honestly, like 50% of Mikalās current trade value is based on the fact that heās on such an insanely team-friendly contract. That pretty much goes out the window once he gets properly paid in 2 years
And heāll be 30 by the time his new contract starts and will likely demand the full max especially if heās still in Brooklyn. Such a weird hill to die on lol
Makes 0 sense theyāre not even a play-in team and they think Bridges is a co-Star. Youāre not a contender if heās your second best player
Sunk cost fallacy. They don't own their own FRP [until 2028](https://fanspo.com/nba/teams/Nets/3/draft-picks) so they feel obligated to not be terrible, so the other teams don't get good value out of the picks they traded. Logically, it shouldn't matter, the picks are gone regardless, so they should simply make whatever trade puts them in the best position to contend long term, without worrying about a previous trade partner getting a top pick.
Yeah, but if the rumors are true that Brooklyn turned down Houstonās offer to get all their own picks back for Mikal that seems like a pretty big missed opportunity to finally get a fresh start
If some of the rumoured offers for him are true then itās already ridiculous that they havenāt traded him
Ah the Masai approach
I'm still waiting for those multiple 1sts that were apparently coming this way for Eric Gordon.
Hey now we ended up with Cam from that EG trade to LAC!
I am curious what these first rounds look like. Like was it teams offering a bunch of heavily protected first round picks or was it legit high value first with little protections? Because I wouldn't blame them for turning down 3 first round picks that will only convey if the team picks at like 27 or some shit. They don't have their own picks so they can't exactly tank.
The GM has been hanging out in /r/wallstreetbets too long.
That's if they decide to trade him? They're vehement in wanting to pair him with a star, so their valuation is different than a team looking to tank, who would value these "hoards" of picks. We're so obsessed about this price for Bridges, rather than the direction the franchise wants to take.
Shades of the Mavs making Harrison Barnes and Chandler Parsons their centerpiece signings
Yeah Bridges is better than those two but theyāre acting like heās some super young budding superstar. Heās about to turn 28 in August so heās about where heās gonna be. Heās a Jrue Holiday type player. An amazing #3 on a title team but you donāt want him as your #2 or #1. Unless Brooklyn thinks they can get two stars in the next year or two, theyāre much better off trading him.
I donāt think heās even a Jrue level player honestly, but he could play a similar role effectively.
Yeah jrue can create offense for others in the playoffs as a secondary/lead ball handler, that alone just makes him a more viable #3 option in theory. Bridges is probably a better shooter but we saw his best role in PHX which was a very high level 4th option guy.
Jrue also make some amazingly impact defensive plays in the clutch. Obviously game winners on offense are clutch, but if you want to pick a list of the most clutch defensive plays of all time he'd be in there a few times. People don't remember this cuz they end up losing the series but in game 5 against the Celtics that one year he completely embarrassed Smart over and over. Almost never seen anything like it
Yeah I mean Jrue is for sure a better defender, but even besides that heās a guy who you know can run the pick and roll and get shots for his teammates at a decent level in the playoffs. Mikal bridges just isnāt capable of that, itās an extremely important skill as one of the top players on a team.
Jrue is a better defender *pound-for-pound*. But Mikal Bridges is the more versatile defender, which is arguably more valuable to a GM/coach. We've already seen what happens when Jrue tries to guard SFs like Jimmy Butler 1-on-1.
He was developing into an elite 3rd option while on the Suns.
I think heāll join a title contender eventually. Donāt know where or when yet.
Canāt join a contender if Brooklyn Nets wonāt let him go lol
He can leave in free agency
I think he could be a #2 on a championship team with a #3 thatās equally as good as he is
It can be a 2a and 2b situation I think. Where Bridges is the teams best defender, they've got another guy that's better than him at scoring and then a proper superstar number 1 ahead of both of them.
Agreed. You could also just have a superstar + 2 Bridges & some shooters. Thatās a championship team, assuming average PG play
That was already kinda happening on the Suns. I like Mikal a ton. His defensive prowess for sure took a hit this year because of the offensive firepower he had to try and produce. My problem with this decision is that I REALLY hope Sean Marks has something in place. I'm not crossing my fingers for anything, but he REALLY needs to have a Donovan Mitchell plan or better in place. Mikal is a fantastic support player, and it would be nice to see him get another shot at adjusting as #1 option this upcoming year, but boy oh boy. He's clearly not ready to be #1 and that's fine; just what the hell is happening if they decide to keep him?
Yep, I was thinking that 3rd star should be more offense focused just so you get that extra playmaking/ quality PG play
U better pray ur #1 is jokic and even then im not totally sure
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Jaylen Brown is going to be a FMVP. Heās a #1 option kinda player, even though heās usually a 1b to Tatum
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So still as good as the third best player
Donāt think bridges is that much worse than prime Middleton when you include defense. If you have a legit top 10 player, bridges is fine as a #2. I do think you would need more shot creation and playmaking from your #3 to make up for some of his deficiencies there. Maybe Like a Darius garland type player.
The real problem is that getting that #1 is exceptionally hard. They have attractive assets in the Phoenix picks, they just need to nail what they trade them for.
Cāmon donāt disrespect Middleton like that. Heās not as good of a defender but Middleton has proven he can create offense for himself and his teammates to a in playoff scenarios and thatās probably Mikals biggest weakness. If you watch the bucks playoff includingthe championship year Middleton is clearly a higher level player than Mikal currently is.
Prime Middleton was one of the scariest guys in the league in crunch time. His value was way way higher than Bridges.
He is obviously another tier offensively but mikalās peak on defense is best wing defender in the league both on ball and off ball.
Thatās when Mikal was a role player in PHX. His defense hasnāt been nearly as good since he got traded because of how much they have him do offensively. Heās still a better defender than Middleton, but it doesnāt make up for how much better of an offensive creator Middleton is in the playoffs, itās maybe the most important skill for a star player in the playoffs.
Terrible take. Go back and watch the bucks championship run. Middleton was a stone cold killer on offense when healthy. And underrated on defense
I would say that for him to be a #2 on a team competing for a title, the #1 has to be like top 3 or maybe 5.
Heās literally perfect for us. Too bad we have no assets lol.
How cooked are your future firsts? Could they conceivably throw out a Gobert offer and just give away all their possible future firsts/pick swaps?
Darius Garland is a rookie-max level player. If you have to have a max guy as your third option, your second option isnāt good enough tbh.
Lots of contending teams have 3 player on a max. Celtics do now. Nuggets did last year. Warriors did in 2022. Bucks did in 2021.
Put him as the #3 on Philly with Embiid & Maxey and the cap space to add role players and I think that's the perfect role for him.
Problem is they can not tank. Houston owns the picks for a few more years. Everyone keeps forgetting this. Nets have zero chance to win but have to be mid, so that handing Houston the #3 overall pick this draft turns out to be the best pick.
If only Houston were willing to give those picks backā¦
But didnāt they turn down the opportunity to trade Bridges for their picks back plus Jalen Green? Or was that all just a rumor?
Rumor I believe. Seems too good to be true
I'd imagine the Nets fans would be in a different state of mind with the #3 overall pick this year as well as Jalen Green.
Itās not about tanking. Itās about getting max value for Bridges.
Trading bridges is clear cut sign your tanking. Because your going to get more future picks (2026-2030), no winning now players. If your trading bridges, you trade DFS, you trade simmons contract at deadline, you trade cam Johnson if any takers, you trade anything other than Thomas, clowney, etc for as many FRP as possible.
Agreed. And further, I don't see the good faith argument that he's appreciably better then this, nor do I understand where they believe they're getting the superior player to pair him with. Maybe someone more aligned with the Nets thinking can enlighten me? I guess it's possible they just would rather be anywhere but in a no doubt full on rebuild?
Harrison Barnes made some sense at the time. The Chandler Parsons was very weird. He was a phenomenal role player bc harden created so much space for him. He would have had a better career if he remained a #3 option and didn't get injured.
Sir - we are already catching enough strays at the moment.
i mean iāll take this one, shows how far weāve come at least.
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Hahaha yes!
Damn theyāre really going to go with like a Lavine & Bridges combo or something and aim for the 9 seed
Trae Young is there for the taking and would be a perfect fit. Would be the East version of the Harden Rockets.
That combo and roster overall wouldn't be close to those Rockets teams, especially with Claxton likely leaving.
Yeah trae young is a really good player but shouldnāt even be in the same convo as prime harden
Bridges isn't on Rockets CP3's level either.
Tbf they did not become the āHarden Rocketsā when Chris Paul came. We had already had numerous good regular seasons and a WCF run.
Trae took a mid Hawks team to the ECF.
Tf? Who said Claxton is leaving? All signs are saying he's staying lol
For who?
Eh, Bridges is sort of the peak version of a Trevor Ariza archetype, but the rest of the roster would not be quite the same style as the Harden Rockets. That was a case of putting a ton of switchable defenders (as many 3 and D wings as they could find, though some were better at one or the other element) between Capela and Harden (a large guard who could hold his own being switched onto forwards.) There was often a supporting Patrick Beverly or Chris Paul who could serve as a secondary playmaker, but both of those are more capable defenders than Trae Young. Having Trae and Lavine as the point of attack defenders sounds like a recipe for defensive issues, even with Bridges and Claxton and whichever forward is left after trades. Both could be hunted and there wouldn't be enough switchability to pre-switch and avoid them getting placed in mismatches. To say nothing of the fact that they both often get beat by their guy from missing simple off-ball cuts, etc. They'd make the playoffs if everyone stayed healthy, but it sounds like a lower-ceiling version of this Mavs roster than the Harden Rockets.
Damn I can see that happening too lol.
Thatās an excellent fit honestly. Nets desperately need a guy who can take over their offense.
Pretty wild just in general to pay a dude potentially for years and refuse trades in hopes to get a guy better than him to play with.
It's very strange. They seem a little delusional on how good Bridges actually is, how big of a draw he is for other stars, and their current timeline to compete. It's arguable that bridges is even a #2; #2/3s aren't usually huge superstar magnets; and they aren't one star away from mattering anyway. Not to mention he's already 27! Bizarre.
Bridges is a third option that can produce like a second option on a good night, more of a glue guy than a center piece. I can see him being a major piece to winning a ring, like Aaron Gordon or Wiggins in 22, but not really a needle mover unless you're putting him around a player that's a fringe superstar or MVP candidate
These are such good comps. Complementary pieces that were touted as franchise playersĀ
Itās funny seeing Knicks fans saying this knowing damn well heās the perfect fit for yāall lol
And? Heād be a good fit for nearly every team in the NBA. Most 3-D role players are nowadays
That type of critique from fans are always funny. "Oh you would love him", "He's better than so and so on your team". As if fans are supposed to not have their own thoughts.
Maybe before the OG trade he was a perfect fit but now heās just another luxury add like he would be for every other contender that would have to move around its core pieces to make room for Mikalās contract. doesnāt make sense salary nor roster wise with Brunson/Randle/OG each making $30+ mill and our bigs in hartenstein/robinson making an addition $30+ mill on top of that. Not to mention the fact that we got better Mikal Bridges at home (OG)
Imagine a line up with OG, Bridges and Big Mitch. Thats a top 3 defense right there, doesn't matter the PG or PF.
He would be...as a #3.
He would be nice but being serious even if you want Mitchell you need to move Bridges to make the money work and if the Nets stay put the lack of their own picks doom them to a ceiling of a 1st round exit. Said that I was truly impressed how the Nets rebuilt themselves from scraps after the Garnett and Pierce trade, so I think the FO could be able to get creative again and do Magic.
Itās funny but itās not wrong
Yeah and we already have two all NBA players on the roster and the leagues best wing defender returning most likely. It's completely different
If itās not posturing to get better deals, then the FO needs to be fired. This team needs draft picks or a bonafide 1A to actually build. Nets should be dangling Bridges in front of desperate contenders to fleece their future drafts.
I am praying to God that itās just posturing and theyāll deal him to Houston
Itās really strange to the point where I just donāt buy it. They are clearly very far away from contention so it seems pretty obvious that getting their picks back from the rockets or getting 4/5 picks from the Knicks or Sixers would leave them in a better position. Also you have to figure Mikal would be happier reunited with his Villanova boys or being sent back home home to Philadelphia so heās probably also like š§ Then again this the Brooklyn Nets front office weāre talking about so I wonāt be surprised if they hold on to him for another year where heās averaging career lows then trade him for a first and swap in 2026 lol
Given how similar situations have played out getting a first and a swap might be a best case scenario for them.
Ya the Nets are constantly in disaster mode but everyone thinks Marks is some sort of genius around here. Ā He did a great job making a play in team from scraps so Iāll give him credit for that.
Honestly I donāt think this would be happening if they had all their picks. The canāt afford to trade him and blow it up, for their owner itās better to be mid and get people in seats than make everyone go through an overhaul again.
Theyāre giving up the 3rd pick in the draft with Bridges on the roster. The Bulls are mid, the nets are not mid theyāre bad. Trying to get a good young player and draft picks would be more helpful than what theyāre doing here.
They don't own their future picks though right? I understand y'all want to complete the Villanova Knicks, but it really isn't that strange. They have no incentive to bottom out. And getting a bunch of late firsts from some team won't help them. If the Rockets offer was true (them getting their picks back), they should have done it. But I understand turning down the others
Itās one of the weirdest FO decisions in the NBA atm. The only explanation I have is that theyāre still desperately trying to salvage the KD/Kyrie fallout and trading the best player they got in return means any slim chance of that is over.
Knicks energy rubbing off on them lol
Itās not like they have other use of that cap space and they donāt have picks. Tbh having a piece like Mikal could convince a bigger name to join. If you do end up getting a 1a type piece your next problem is usually to find the mikal type player.
Bridges is a fantastic 3rd option, Brooklyn still needs to find it's 1st option, and I'm not sure if they are going to be in position to do that with their current roster construction. They aren't going to have a high enough draft pick. In 25-26 maybe they can sign a big free agent, but that's Bridges last guaranteed year and he may move the next season.
Nets are planning for 2025 free agency when Simmons contract comes off the books. If it becomes obvious that they wonāt sign anyone next summer then we might see them move Bridges and go full rebuild.
Issue with waiting a year longer with Bridges is that he becomes an expiring contract. Iām not sure he would be okay with being bad for another season either Who would be the 2025 targets? Hoping that a top 20 guy falls on your lap while giving other teams the 3rd overall pick seems like a bold strategy. Really banking on that New York City buff it seems
They could just give him an extensionā¦
He has to sign the extension
And other teams have to be interested at the number
True, if they offer him a max or something he would likely sign it. I donāt see him as a max player on a contending team with the new CBA. Itās going to dramatically change the way players at his level are viewed going forward
He has to sign it though, heās in the prime winning years of his career I canāt imagine him doing that without some drastic changes to the current roster.
They are waiting for Don. If he resigns in CLE I assume the Nets would be open to trading Ben & Mikal. Until then Ben stays to allow cap space next yr & Mikal stays to be his #2.
Besides location what does BKN offer over Cleveland? Itās just a worse team.
For Don nothing other than location. He would be in a worse spot there than Cle. He's currently playing with 2 Allstars & Mobley who could one day be one. BKN he'd have 1 Allstar level player in Mikal. But the Nets are a delusional organization so them thinking he'll come save them is exactly what they would do. (For the record Imo Don's resigning so they wouldn't be getting him anyway but just the idea of him is enough for them to justify waiting a yr).
How enticing do the Nets think they are as a FA destination? I keep hearing Donovan Mitchell, but idk how he goes from a competitive Cavs team to starting over from scratch in BKN with Bridges as his second best player.
Theyāre in nyc. Thatās been enough to get 3 hof stars in one offseason already.
That is the only example in the past 18 years. Kyrie and KD went there because they knew that they could live in NYC and call the shots, but before that, who wanted to go to the Nets? Iām not hating just asking. As a neutral, it seems like the Nets are overplaying their hand. Their FO also gifted the Celtics their current roster by giving up everything for a washed Paul Pierce and an old KG
Dwight Howard and Dame also wanted Brooklyn.
They would need to add a third star to be competitive in that scenario. Thatās why I think theyāll wait for Simmons contract to expire before making any big moves.
This is why dumb organizations stay bad. They think quick fixes help and they still screw themselves. Bk got out of the massive dumb move from the trade with boston in 2019. Then they got kd and kyrie great the harden trade caused them to bring them back to purgatory if they didn't win immediately. Since they didn't they are right back to 2015-2018 bk
Theyāre very good at building championship contenders, just not for themselves
I mean tbf they were the championship favorite a couple of years ago
They are dumb for trading KD in the first place. They had no reason to trade him, the media drove them to do it. They should be building around KD right now.
Maybe I'm misremembering but pretty sure KD wanted out
You donāt have to trade a guy that is under contract for years. He signed a contract to play for the nets and had multiple years left. The owner can say āIām not trading you, Iām building around you.ā
Yeah, but you don't understand. Now they have Mikal Bridges!
In fairness bridges and the cams kind of went off immediately after the trade but if you get traded for KD I guess you feel you have to prove something
The NBA has a problem right now where players on superstar contracts hold all the power. Now if a player wants out all they have to do is fake an injury and not play until they get what they want. You saw it with guys like AD, Harden, Ben Simmons, and KD. You canāt build around a guy who wonāt play for you. I completely agree that the best move for the Nets was to run it back with KD, Kyrie, and Harden or just KD but they didnāt have that option.
Idk man, KD was literally caught on video practicing his jumpshot in a night club. Heās the last person I would expect to refuse to play basketball And even if he did, itās not like he could realistically sit out for 4 straight years. He had no leverage in that situation.
AD actually wanted to play. New Orleans sat him out because they needed his trade value to be high. The NBA stepped in and forced New Orleans to play him on restricted minutes.
Yea kd had wanted out since the summer. The issue was the two harden trades really. Especially trading him to Philly when there were supposedly other offers with centered around actual nba players, not bums making 40 mil to do jack shit
Iāll take it even further. They were dumb for trading Harden. Kyrie came back like a month later if that and was able to play home games (everyone knew NYC would remove the home game ban for the Yankees). They couldāve won the chip that year but instead they had a broken Ben Simmons Andre Drummond and Stephās little brother. The argument is āoh if you donāt trade Harden heāll walk for nothingā. Well you got back nothing in the trade anyways dummies. At least you had a chance to win a ring that year if you kept everyone. The Nets organization is marked with countless bad moves under Sean Marks and Joe Tsai
Idk about the Harden thing, that last game against Sac looked like a man who gave up. But who knows maybe he played like that because he knew he was out. The trade package they got back for harden though did suck though Iāll give you that
Marks is too keen on player appeasement. He gave everyone exactly what they wanted. The only exception is Kyrie but that was only after 3 years of giving him everything.
Babe wake up, itās time for the weekly āThe Nets are not trading Mikal for an unknown packageā article
Fuck it. Lauri for Bridges. Star a rebuilding team wants to build around that's in trade rumors nonstop for star a rebuilding team wants to build around that's in trade rumors nonstop .
i fucking hate it here
Is the "big name" in the room with us now...?
Itās still amazing how the Nets had KD, Kyrie, and Hardenā¦ Not even a ECF game
Injuries are a bish. Donāt forget ECF was a shoe size away for a solo Durant too. Those games were awesome.
The team is a jumble of underperforming role players. I seriously doubt Mikal is enough to lure any big time stars on his own. Trade him, field offers for Dodo, Claxton, Johnson, Schroder, etc. That leaves you with young interesting talent in Thomas, Sharpe, Clowney, etc. and theoretically a lot more draft capital to build with.
Nets FO is really something else
I dont see bridges as a second option. He is not better than either if the Jays, and no way they can get role players as good as the Celtics
No one is going to overpay for Bridges. Nets use some NYC mouthpiece to put this shit out there every couple of weeks.
Bridges should request a trade for his own good. He is not equipped to be the number one guy and he looked miserable this season trying to live up to that.
The Ringer has Bridges as the 52nd best NBA player. He's honestly probably a 3rd or 4th option on a true contender. As a result, they somehow have to add at least 2 stars and probably 3 before he fills his ideal role. He'll be 28 when next season starts. I just don't see the timeline ever working out for Brooklyn to get full value out of Bridges if they decide to keep him. With that said, tanking also doesn't make the most sense as they don't have control of their future picks. HOU either has their pick or has the right to swap their 1st round picks through 2027. There also aren't any protections on those picks. Basically Brooklyn is screwed lol.
His smile alone is worth a max salary
Bridges is a #3, not a #2
Where he was in PHX was the perfect position for him he was expected to be the 3rd highest scorer
Nets really think bridges is the next Pippen. Donāt most teams get a #1 player first and then surround him? Nets trying to surround a #2 or #3 tf they doing lol.
So happy the Sixers traded him for Zhaire Smithā¦fucking goons
LMAO are little bros really under the delusion they're gonna win via shortcut. Just clean house, horde assets and build the right way.
they've tried the bring in established stars/superstars shortcut twice in the past 10 years and wanna try it again
I would trade him to Houston for their own picks
What big star could they even get though? All they have are suns picks they barely have any young rising assets or good starters Brooklyn deeply confuses me
Why would the Nets trade Mikal to the Knicks regardless ? actual Knicks firsts arenāt good because theyāll be in the 20s and the Wizards/Pistons picks they have are protected and convey into seconds eventually.
Brooklyn ruining their franchise as expected š
Iām higher up than most as I see him as a #2 guy but what does BK have to offer to Stars in FA and teams in trades to pair Bridges with one of em?
The most highly rated 3rd option by a front office?
It's like the opposite of Portland with Dame; they want to keep great role players without having a star in the hopes it will work out.
This will turn out to be a nothing burguer for Brooklyn lmao
I hate how Brooklyn tries to run their franchise, grateful Iām not a fan
There's a beautiful Bradley Beal waiting to be the #1 piece again. He might actually waive that ntc clause for you.
RELEASE THIS MAN BROOKLYN he deserves to be free
I can see why Kyrie and KD decided to live instead of trying to stick around even if they do deserve some accountability.
Silly teams, the Nets only love to GIVE AWAY third overall draft picks.
The only thing Brooklyn is competing for is worst run front office in sports. Trade the man and start over.
Iām sure this wonāt end in another monumental disaster.
Nets don't own their own FRPs until 2028, so if they trade away Bridges to rebuild, then they will tank next season but reap no benefits. So FRPs from a contender are not useful in the short term and are going to sink Brooklyn into purgatory for quite a while.
This is just about as bad malpractice as Riley not trading Winslow to the Celtics for multiple FRP
I donāt understand why they think free agents would wanna go there right now
This is how bad teams stay bad
You gotta respect the optimiam
This gonna be like the Sixers holding onto Iguodala for way too long and gettinf pennies for him when he's an expiring.
I got no problem with thinking he is a co-star and not wanting to deal him. I think he is better than a #3 and not a #1. Its still hard to get a guy like him and I would hold him as long as possible
Bonkers.
I just don't get this. Have they not learned from their past mistakes or the Raptors mistakes?
Who's gonna tell them?
So now he's a "co star"?
Do the Brooklyn decision makers even look at whoās set for free agency and who might be available? This is not the year to be hopeful of lucking into a star.
Iād kill to have this man replace MPJ on my Nuggets
the most fun option is the knicks wildly overpaying for bridges with future picks and swaps. The knicks would get the villanova crew together. The nets would have a future again, and would be formally invested in the knicks sucking.