It has been over a decade since the New York Knicks have made win-now moves. They have done just that this offseason, acquiring Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges in a rare trade with the crosstown rival, and re-signing OG Anunoby to a long-term extension. With these moves, the Knicks now find themselves in the mix of title of contention, led by their two all-stars Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
Many agree that the Knicks are now serious contenders. Last season, they won 50 regular season games and made it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but injuries caught up to them, and their quest for a title ultimately came up short. The Boston Celtics would go on to win the title, but the Knicks will look to stop them from becoming a dynasty.
Adding Mikal Bridges gives the Knicks a loaded starting five Let’s start with the Bridges addition. Alongside being a perfect fit that can guard multiple different positions and create his own shot offensively, Bridges has the deep Villanova connection with several players on the roster, winning an NCAA National Championship in 2016 with Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, and winning another championship in 2018 with Brunson and DiVincenzo. They have remained in close contact ever since, and now that they’re all on the same team, on-court chemistry will be one of the last things the Knicks will need to worry about.
In 109 total games for the Nets spanning two seasons, Bridges averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and shot 4.