Was the Knicks’ big summer trade a Mikalculation?
The duality of New York’s asset-costly new star puts the trade for him under the microscope
After trading Brooklyn four unprotected first-round picks, a 2025 first (via Milwaukee), a 2025 second and an unprotected pick swap in 2028 for Mikal Bridges in the most obvious blockbuster of all time, the New York Knicks are 12-8 to start the year. Fans were too quick to harp on the haul exchanged for Bridges when the season’s start undermined expectations. That’s why it’s called “all-in” and not “okay, maybe just a little in.” What you give isn’t always what you get, but what you pay is certainly what you’re remembered for. It’s risky business, no Tom Cruise.
I’m nearly 15 months into a venture that will (hopefully) span my lifetime, and despite some jarringly positive results still have concerns and questions. Bridges and the Knicks are 20 games into their partnership – ultimate length TBD – and his play last weekend was worth both a 911 call and an apologetic call back cancelling the first call.
“Emergency services aren’t needed,” say most New York fans. At least not yet, after Bridges put together his best individual performance of the young season Sunday against New Orleans: 31 points, 82% true shooting and defense that helped expedite a bludgeoning so mammoth Tom Thibodeau emptied his bench with nine minutes to go, a circumstance so rare it deserves its own article.
But that happened just 48 hours after Bridges’ worst outing of the year. In the narrow victory at Charlotte, he finished a team-worst -14, joining Jericho Sims as the only blue-and-orange to finish as net negatives. Try going back to the box score and ignoring his 8 points on 30% shooting. You’d have better luck suiting up in the #25 jersey and replacing Bridges Tuesday when the Knicks host Orlando.
For a team that’s openly denied concern over the starting two-guard, New York looked incentivised to get him going Sunday. Karl-Anthony Towns assisted Bridges for the game’s first basket, kickstarting a 13-point frame for the mid-ranging mercenary. Mikal returned the favor to open the second half, assisting Towns on a 3-pointer right out the gate. Josh Hart told reporters after the Charlotte win that it’s the job of Bridges’ teammates to get him going. Their efforts against New Orleans seem an answer to his call. Credit to Jalen Brunson above the rest, because his passing this year can’t be discussed enough (Ed. note: This could be another article!). Four of the captain’s nine assists against the Pels were to Bridges.
One number that caught my eye: Mikal is shooting 19% from three off passes from Brunson. For anyone chalking that up to early-season chucking, he’s 3-of-15 the last six games. Bridges and Brunson have yet to recreate the collegiate chemistry that, in part, led the front office to justify last summer’s blockbuster trade. Fortunately, there’s a flip side to this uglier side of this coin. Bridges and Hart have been great as a duo.
In 251 possessions with those two on the floor and Brunson off, New York is outscoring opponents by 6.9 points per 100 possessions. Bridges is shooting 31.3% from three off of passes from Hart while already assisting that former college teammate 15 times – nearly twice as many as he’s dished to Brunson.
And then there’s the free throw line. Mikal is on track to attempt just 53 free throws this season. For reference, last season Mitchell Robinson, a man on doctor’s orders to avoid the charity stripe as much as possible, took 66. Of all players with 280+ field goal attempts, Bridges ranks dead last in free throw attempts. Bridges’ go-to move, a fadeaway jumper, is not recommended when looking to get to the line. As/if his confidence returns, will he take to driving more? That doesn’t guarantee more foul shots. But for a Knick team 29th in free throw attempts, any help is welcome.
Bridges’ defense has left a lot to be desired, admittedly. When he’s on, he’s on, but his motor has sputtered and started and shut down over and over. Plays like this one, on a night where he was feeling it offensively, are what the Knicks need more of.
That’s just good ol’ fashioned one-on-one disruption. The other half of Wingstop™, OG Anunoby, can crucify opponents in the passing lanes and meet them at the rim. Bridges’ focus should be one-on-one matchups along the perimeter and wreaking havoc early in the shot clock. Like any good duo, the two should be complementary – not overlapping, but maintaining a steady parallel when they share the floor. Think of Anunoby’s defense as the music, and Bridges’ the lyrics. (A fully engaged Robinson could be the visuals for a music video in this analogy. But we’ll shelve that conversation until his return.)
After torching the Pelicans Sunday at MSG, Bridges told Alan Hahn that he loves “playing in this gym”. He wasn’t lying. Bridges is averaging 20.6 points on 54/34/86 shooting splits at home versus 13.3 points on 41/30/33 in away games. That difference could certainly be linked to the Knicks’ road-heavy schedule to start the season, but the degree of discrepancy can’t go unmentioned.
New York is 6-2 at home and 6-6 on the road. Is there an argument for Bridges as the fair-weather athlete? Better in games when everything’s clicking for everyone? What players aren’t? It’s not like the two wins over Charlotte and New Orleans will be fondly remembered. Both teams were without multiple members of their starting five. Scheduled wins aren’t celebrated – not by teams with championship aspirations.
Inconsistency, no matter how towering the highs or shallow the lows, is problematic. It can lead to trust issues amongst a team’s fan base and players alike, or represent a glaring predictability, an Achilles heel. Bridges and New York have to find a middle ground before they get burnt at both ends. Here’s hoping Sunday’s win is a step in the right direction.