Key Takeaways:
– The New York Knicks are deemed to target Mikal Bridges rather than a major star for the upcoming summer.
– Bill Simmons contends the Knicks may overpay to acquire Bridges and complete the Villanova quartet.
– The Knicks’ trade strategy would involve their significant draft capital.
– Despite the emphasis on Bridges, the Knicks are still open for potential big names.
Bill Simmons, a renowned sports analyst from The Ringer, recently opined that the New York Knicks have their eyes set on bringing Mikal Bridges aboard the team in the forthcoming summer trade. Unlike the popular conjecture, he shared on his podcast that the Knicks might not target a massive star player, but would prefer to close the Villanova quartet that seized the 2016 NCAA championship.
Reuniting the Villanova Quartet
According to Simmons, the ultimate player the Knicks yearn to receive is Bridges. “I really think they’re going to get Mikal Bridges as their key target. The aim is to reunite their four Villanova guys, and not necessarily bring aboard a major star,” Simmons expressed in his podcast aired on May 20.
For this vision to turn into a reality, the Knicks may have to consider paying more to fetch Bridges. If successful, Bridges would team up with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo, recreating their winning college basketball synergy on a professional level.
A Trade Obstacle in History
Obstacles, however, stand in the way of this dream reunion. The Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets, the current club of Bridges, have not executed any trade since 1983. Therefore, Simmons postulates that the Knicks may have to overpay to convince the Nets to break this long-standing inertia.
Playing to Their Advantage
Given their non-qualification for the playoffs or even the play-in tournament, the Nets’ sluggish progression provides an opportunity for the Knicks to capitalize on. The Nets’ hands are tied as their Suns’ picks are their only accessible hope for advancement. The Knicks, on the other hand, possess eight first-round and seven-second-round picks that could facilitate their ambitious plans.
Bridges, who signed a team-friendly four-year deal worth $90 million with the Suns in 2021 before moving to the Nets for Kevin Durant, has a $23 million contract, easily balanced by Bojan Bogdanovic’s $19 million team option from the Knicks.
Targeting the Big Name Remains a Possibility
Despite Simmons’ prediction, the Knicks are not closing their doors to the prospects of major stars. Fred Katz from The Athletic reported that the team is using their significant draft capital to pursue a high-profile star that could potentially transition them into a solid championship contender.
The Knicks are “still targeting the upcoming summer as the time to trade for the next big name,” according to Katz. Their potential targets could be a multitude of star players, depending on the decisions of various teams this summer.