Nets reportedly decline additional massive offers for Mikal Bridges

With the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline just around the corner, the Brooklyn Nets remain steadfast in their commitment to hold on to star forward Mikal Bridges. 

Bridges, who was acquired last season in the deal that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix, has been in high demand before even suiting up for Brooklyn. The Nets have been unwilling to trade Bridges since landing him, no matter how strong an offer they may have received.

As more substantial offers continue to pour in with the trade deadline looming, the Action Network's Matt Moore reported that Brooklyn has turned down "multiple offers of five first-rounders for Bridges." Moore adds that it's possible the offered draft choices could be heavily protected or include pick swaps. 

"Two league sources said the Nets have claimed multiple offers of five first-rounders for Mikal Bridges, but I'm pretty skeptical on that front," Moore wrote. "One, it might be five ‘firsts’ with swaps and/or heavily protected picks, and if the offer was really five firsts, why share that and then continue to say they are not interested in trading Mikal Bridges?" 

If most, or all, of the reportedly offered picks don't come with strings attached, it's baffling that the Nets aren't jumping at the deal. Even though Bridges is averaging a career-high 21.9 points per game, Brooklyn is the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference (19-28) and probably won't be contending for a championship any time soon.

Nonetheless, it's not all that surprising the Nets aren't entertaining offers for Bridges, considering they've continued to turn down several other worthwhile deals in recent weeks. 

On Jan. 31, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Houston Rockets discussed sending "most" of the first-round picks acquired in the 2021 James Harden trade back to Brooklyn for Bridges, but talks stalled. Moore also noted that the New Orleans Pelicans "made a serious offer" for Bridges, which was rejected.

Additionally, the Nets also recently declined an offer of two first-round picks for forward Dorian Finney-Smith, according to the New York Post's Brian Lewis. Finney-Smith (9.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game) will have plenty of suitors in the coming days, so it's possible Brooklyn could soon receive a more appealing package. However, turning down seven first-round picks for Bridges and Finney-Smith is a questionable look for a team stuck in NBA purgatory.

Although perhaps the Nets are just beginning to gauge Bridges' market value in anticipation of offloading him this summer. Many scouts and analysts believe the 2024 NBA Draft is a relatively weak class, so it would make sense if Brooklyn feels the picks for June's event are not worth acquiring. 

Even so, it's still puzzling to be so reluctant to trade valuable assets and instead build around a 27-year-old whose value can only truly be appreciated on a contending team.

If the Nets aren't going to shock the world at the deadline, they should seriously consider trading Bridges in the offseason and focus on building around guard Cam Thomas and center Nic Claxton.