Mikal Bridges Expected To Join Jalen Brunson In Taking A Pay Cut From The Knicks On Next Deal

Mikal Bridges was recently traded to the New York Knicks from the Brooklyn Nets in a massive deal, with the Knicks giving five first-round picks up to land the former Villanova standout. Bridges was reunited with his college teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo.

Bridges signed a four-year, $90.9 million contract with the Phoenix Suns in 2022. He was subsequently traded to the Nets in the middle of the 2022-23 NBA season. He has two years left on his current contract, where he will make $48.2 million over the next two years.

Bridges is likely to sign an extension soon. Going by this report, he will be willing to restructure the deal in order to give the team a little more flexibility with the salary cap and allow them to surround the squad with better pieces going forward as they hunt for a championship.

Is Bridges The Missing Piece For The Knicks?

Mikal Bridges is a solid role-player and can be a contributing piece for a contending team. He proved his value to a contending team with the Suns, when he played a key role in the 2021 Suns' run to the NBA Finals. With the Knicks elevating over the last few years thanks to Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, Bridges will be a key piece for the Knicks.

But does he make them a championship contender? Unfortunately, Bridges showed that he wasn't a superstar-caliber player when he was with the Nets. While his immediate impact on the Nets was incredible, last season showed that his ceiling is just that of an elite role player in the NBA.

Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season. While his scoring numbers are probably going to go down this year, with him no longer being a number-one option, his defense and efficient scoring will come in handy for the Knicks this year.

Bridges has also garnered the reputation of a consummate professional in the NBA. While there were rumors of him demanding a trade out of the Nets, GM Sean Marks confirmed that he didn't make any such demand, and praised Bridges for his commitment to the franchise.

The Knicks will have to make some smart moves over the next few years to capitalize on their championship window going forward.