Knicks Will Wait Before Extending Key Forward

If there's been one lesson that the New York Knicks have taught to the public about how they handle business, it's been that they're much more meticulous than they look at times.

The first steps they took in their wide-reaching coaching search did not look like indicators of a scrupulous front office, but they still ended up with a new leader who fits their vision in Mike Brown along with qualified free agents that give the Knicks an even better shot at taking advantage of the wide-open Eastern Conference all the same.

New York is deep and ready to contend, but what they've concocted isn't meant to last long-term. The front office owes a lot of players a lot of money, and they've been very specific in who they've doled out extensions to in ensuring that they're committing to the right players.

Mikal Bridges is one of those key players looking for some long-term security, with the forward having helped the team reach their first conference finals appearance in 25 years in his maiden voyage with the Knicks. He's looking to get paid, but his team is being very particular in their hesitancy to throw a bag at the 28-year-old.

Ian Begley the Knicks' insider with SNY, spelled out the factors holding Bridges back from netting a fresh, nine-figure deal. “Until the Giannis stuff is fully settled — and I don’t think it’s fully settled yet — teams continue to plan with that in the back of their minds,” Begley said on The Putback. “When [Bridges] does extend, I think that would tell you Giannis is put to bed.”

He's referring to Giannis Antetokounmpo, the best name that's potentially out there should the 2x MVP ask out from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Knicks have had their name in conversations to swoop in for the Hall of Famer ever since he started expressing displeasure with the only team he's ever known, as they remain willing to keep their contracts movable should an emergency trade offer need to come together.

Bridges played under Tom Thibodeau for just one season, publicly clashing with the veteran coach's approach before the Knicks elected to move on to Mike Brown.

The forward, once placing second in the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year race and playing at a fringe-All-Star level at his next stop with the Brooklyn Nets, didn't play up to his standards across an inconsistent first season with the Knicks, and the team is likely to wait and see how Bridges improves under new direction.

Antetokounmpo's attainability status as an asset clearly remains at the front of New York's monitor, though, with the Knicks ready to dangle their $25 million forward in a deal should the situation arise.