The New York Knicks shook up the NBA on the eve of the 2024 draft, trading for Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges on Tuesday night.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Brooklyn will receive multiple unprotected first-round draft picks and forward Bojan Bogdanovic in the trade, which carries significant fantasy basketball and betting implications.
Bridges will reunite with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo in New York, but how will it shake out? Let's take a look.
Can Bridges thrive as a scorer in New York?
From a fantasy perspective, Bridges took a step back last season with the Nets. He averaged 19.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.6 APG and 1.0 SPG over 82 games -- down from his impressive stretch of 26.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.0 SPG in 27 games with Brooklyn during the 2022-23 season.
What caused this decline?
Bridges struggled as the primary creator for the Nets. However, he remains one of just four players to record 1,500 points, 150 3-pointers and 75 steals in each of the past two seasons, joining the elite company of Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum.
Despite the scoring dip, Bridges will stay fantasy relevant on the Knicks because of his ability to stockpile stats in multiple categories. Bridges is set to benefit from having more talent around him, including Brunson and Julius Randle. Having additional scorers on the court means defenses can't focus solely on Bridges as a No. 2 or No. 3 option for the Knicks, and his scoring should take pressure off Brunson.
Bridges has also played 474 consecutive games. He is set to start at one of the forward spots and has a lot to offer fantasy managers this season on a stacked Knicks roster. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for giving his key players heavy minutes and Bridges ranked fourth in total minutes last season and led the league in total minutes in the two seasons prior. Expect him to be among the league leaders in minutes played.
Are the Knicks legitimate contenders in 2024-25?
The Knicks were already a contender in the East before adding Bridges, but his arrival positions the team to potentially challenge the Boston Celtics for supremacy in the East. New York's odds to win the 2025 NBA Championship shortened from 16-1 to 10-1 at ESPN BET after the trade, tied with the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks for the fifth-shortest odds to win next year's title.
With a formidable backcourt featuring Brunson and DiVincenzo and two of the league's most versatile perimeter defenders in Bridges and Hart, the Knicks will now be able to effectively defend teams with multiple playmakers.
As we approach the start of free agency, betting on the Knicks (+500) to win the Eastern Conference could be a good move. The team appears built for a deep playoff run this season and has a shot at making its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.