(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
After a season and a half with the Brooklyn Nets, Mikal Bridges is on the move again.
It was recently announced that Bridges would join up with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and others on the New York Knicks.
There has been a lot of speculation about the move, with some people claiming that Bridges wanted to leave the Nets for the Knicks.
But speaking to Erik Slater and the press, Nets general manager Sean Marks cleared up the rumors and said Bridges didn’t demand a trade.
“It’s been reported that Mikal wanted to leave or requested a trade, that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Marks stated.
Sean Marks said the Knicks trade came together very quickly and emphasized that Mikal Bridges did not request a trade:
“Mikal didn’t know until I called him… It’s been reported that Mikal wanted to leave or requested a trade, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.” pic.twitter.com/rDaKndA4lO
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) July 8, 2024
According to Marks, Bridges didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes until the deal was done.
It was then that he learned he was going to the Knicks in place of Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite, Shake Milton, five future first-round picks, a future pick swap, and a future second-round pick.
Now Bridges will get to play with several of his college teammates and perform with a team that has a much better chance of going far in the playoffs.
The Nets acquired a lot, mostly draft picks, which suggests they are entering a rebuilding phase.
They will definitely miss Bridges, who averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in 2023-24.
As great as Bridges was, trading him was an important move for Brooklyn to build a strong future.
But according to Marks, the 27-year-old player would have remained in Brooklyn for a very long time and wasn’t looking for a change of scenery.
The post Nets GM Speaks Out About Mikal Bridges Trade appeared first on The Cold Wire.