According to NBA insider Matt Moore of Action Network, the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans tried to trade for Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges.
The Nets, who were contacted by the Houston Rockets as well, are not interested in trading Bridges.
“The Pelicans are also known to have made a serious offer for Mikal Bridges and were likewise rebuffed,” Moore wrote in his latest NBA column. “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. … The Jazz, sources say, called the Nets to inquire about Mikal Bridges, though they found the same impossibly high bar to clear in return.”
Bridges is averaging 21.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Nets this season while shooting 45.5% from the field, 36.9% from beyond the arc and 82.5% from the free-throw line. He’s making $21.7 million.
The Nets acquired Bridges last season from the Phoenix Suns in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade. Bridges is averaging 23.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks with Brooklyn.
One of the best two-way players in the NBA, Bridges has career averages of 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Suns and Nets. The Villanova product has never missed a game since entering the NBA in 2018.
The Nets are 19-28 on the season. They are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings. If the season ended today, Brooklyn wouldn’t even be in the play-in tournament.
The Jazz are 24-26. They are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are 28-21. They are in sixth place in the West.
Teams will likely continue to call the Nets about trading for Bridges. However, Brooklyn intends to keep the talented swingman.
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