Brooklyn Nets Move On Without Mikal Bridges, But With Abundant Assets
The Brooklyn Nets finalized two major deals on Saturday, completing their trade with the Knicks and officially signing Nic Claxton. The transactions are significant.
Mikal Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop are now New York Knicks. In return, the Brooklyn Nets received five first-round picks (only one with protections), an unprotected first-round swap, a potentially valuable second-rounder, and three players: Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, and Mamadi Diakite, whose contracts are not guaranteed beyond next summer. The Nets also created a large $23.3 million trade exception, the third largest in the NBA, and traded Juan Pablo Vaulet to the Knicks.
These moves mark the end of the Nets’ ambivalent strategy. They are now fully committed to rebuilding, even if it means enduring a challenging season. Many analysts predict the Nets will win fewer than 20 games next season, unless unexpected changes occur. There’s no assurance that the rebuilding process will solve Brooklyn’s issues or be completed in a single season.
Official.
Full details ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/MQ843wgZJQ
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 7, 2024
Social media farewells from the team and players confirm reports that Bridges either pushed for the move or indicated he’d be happier in New York with his Villanova teammates. The Knicks won 50 games, while the Nets lost 50. Before thanking the Nets and their fans, Bridges expressed gratitude to the Knicks on social media, showing excitement about playing at Madison Square Garden.
Even the Nets’ farewell to Bridges was brief, given he was once the franchise’s face. Bridges often praised fans of his Villanova teammates over Brooklyn fans, as noted by Anthony Puccio.
Attention has now shifted to Nic Claxton, whom Sean Marks and Jordi Fernandez identified as the offseason’s primary focus.
Moving forward, the conversation is less likely to dwell on the losses of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Bridges, and more on future prospects, especially with the new picks and cap space available next summer.
Thank you😭🧡💙 https://t.co/PtB5x4DlaS
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) July 7, 2024
There were no updates on trade rumors involving Dorian Finney-Smith or Cam Johnson. Moves by the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings have limited the market for these players. Bojan Bogdanovic and Ben Simmons, both recovering from injuries, have expiring contracts worth nearly $75 million.
No news yet on Trendon Watford’s free agency after the Nets extended a qualifying offer. Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Smith Jr., who did not receive qualifying offers, are heading elsewhere. With Diakite’s contract status uncertain and Watford’s extension, the Nets have 12 players under contract for next season and about $13 million under the luxury tax threshold.
More roster changes are expected, as free agency has just begun. The Summer League, starting Thursday in Las Vegas, will help determine the bottom of the roster. There’s still plenty of news to come.
