RealGM

HOU: Mikal Bridges
NYK: Malcolm Brogdon, Cam Whitmore, 2025 1st rd pick (lessor of HOU/OKC), 2029 NYK 1st returned, 2031 NYK 1st returned.
BK: 2027 1st rd pick swap returned, 2029 1st rd pick (better of PHX/DAL)
WAS: Steven Adams, Jeff Greene, Jericho Sims, 2 2nd rd picks (via HOU)

Houston gets Bridges for a steep discount to what NY paid over the summer (2 picks, 1 swap plus Whittmore)
NY realizes they built a pretender not a contender and gets some of their picks back to not be all in
Brooklyn gains control of their 2027 pick
WAS picks up some 2nds for Brogdon

Dont see how bridges is worth 3-4 firsts (depending on your view of whitmore)

Neither Bridges nor Brogdon are worth this. This is very bad for the Rockets, and that's coming from someone who would like to see the Rockets do bad. That should tell you something.

Godaddycurse wrote:Dont see how bridges is worth 3-4 firsts (depending on your view of whitmore)

He was just traded for 5 1sts, 1 swap and a high 2nd

We can all agree that was a historic overpay, but most thought he held the value of 3 1s

I think the Rockets proposal is about 75% of the value NY gave up for Mikal - 2 1s, 1 swap, 2 2nds and a 2nd year player who fell out of the rotation

R-DAWG wrote:

Godaddycurse wrote:Dont see how bridges is worth 3-4 firsts (depending on your view of whitmore)

He was just traded for 5 1sts

Widely seen as an overpay at the time, and his value dropped since with his play to date this year

Mikal Bridges is a role player.

He was a pretty good role player a few years ago in a seemingly perfect situation for him, now his play has cratered.
-His cheap contract years are pretty much used up, and probably has a big contract coming.
-He is no longer has the young player "getting better" upside.

He was probably only worth 2-3 okay firsts when he was traded to the Knicks, and he is probably worth 1 less first now. Kudos to the Nets for fleecing New York, but you would be lucky to recoup half of what was sent out.

I would definitely still take him in Houston, but the 27 Nets pick is golden and we aren't moving that unless its for a star.

I would offer

Whitmore, Tate, Landale, 2025 #1, 2027 Phx #1 lottery protected

for

Bridges, 2026 #1

And feel free to leave the Wiz out unless you want to pony up a 1st. We'll take a bad contract, combine Brogdon with Valanciunas, or otherwise make accommodations but we have extra seconds over the next few years, need 1sts.

LarsV8 wrote:Mikal Bridges is a role player.

He was a pretty good role player a few years ago in a seemingly perfect situation for him, now his play has cratered.
-His cheap contract years are pretty much used up, and probably has a big contract coming.
-He is no longer has the young player "getting better" upside.

He was probably only worth 2-3 okay firsts when he was traded to the Knicks, and he is probably worth 1 less first now. Kudos to the Nets for fleecing New York, but you would be lucky to recoup half of what was sent out.

I would definitely still take him in Houston, but the 27 Nets pick is golden and we aren't moving that unless its for a star.

I would offer

Whitmore, Tate, Landale, 2025 #1, 2027 Phx #1 lottery protected

for

Bridges, 2026 #1

Your not getting Bridges for whitemore and 1st.

Yes - the Nets fleeced the Knicks and NY won’t get that price. Yes, Bridges hasn’t been great this season, he also hasn’t been awful.

I would only trade him if I could get 3 of my picks back and have a chance to build out the roster around Brunson/Kat

I also would have traded both my 24 picks and both my 25 picks for Bridges. That’s 4 firsts but much different than control of my draft for 7 years - which is why I hated the trade, not the amount of picks but control of our future.

R-DAWG wrote:Your not getting Bridges for whitemore and 1st.

Yes - the Nets fleeced the Knicks and NY won’t get that price. Yes, Bridges hasn’t been great this season, he also hasn’t been awful.

I would only trade him if I could get 3 of my picks back and have a chance to build out the roster around Brunson/Kat

I also would have traded both my 24 picks and both my 25 picks for Bridges. That’s 4 firsts but much different than control of my draft for 7 years - which is why I hated the trade, not the amount of picks but control of our future.

There is no chance BK is giving you your picks back.

You are asking Houston to bail you out, by giving back the juicy Nets 2027 swap.

Houston got what they wanted from the Nets: the Suns picks.
No need for Bridges.
They are pretty deep at the wing positions.
I don’t see a trade here.

R-DAWG wrote:

Godaddycurse wrote:Dont see how bridges is worth 3-4 firsts (depending on your view of whitmore)

He was just traded for 5 1sts, 1 swap and a high 2nd

We can all agree that was a historic overpay, but most thought he held the value of 3 1s

I think the Rockets proposal is about 75% of the value NY gave up for Mikal - 2 1s, 1 swap, 2 2nds and a 2nd year player who fell out of the rotation

I'm starting to wonder if a little of the value the Knicks gave up to get Bridges was also included for the Nets to take on Bogey's contract. I'm assuming his value tanked with his performance in New York. I believe he had 2 surgeries this off-season at the age of 35 and hasn't played a single game yet this season.

If New York wanted to dump a declining injured 35 years old making $19M for pure capspace it may have cost them a first.

LarsV8 wrote:Mikal Bridges is a role player.

He was a pretty good role player a few years ago in a seemingly perfect situation for him, now his play has cratered.
-His cheap contract years are pretty much used up, and probably has a big contract coming.
-He is no longer has the young player "getting better" upside.

He was probably only worth 2-3 okay firsts when he was traded to the Knicks, and he is probably worth 1 less first now. Kudos to the Nets for fleecing New York, but you would be lucky to recoup half of what was sent out.

I would definitely still take him in Houston, but the 27 Nets pick is golden and we aren't moving that unless its for a star.

I would offer

Whitmore, Tate, Landale, 2025 #1, 2027 Phx #1 lottery protected

for

Bridges, 2026 #1

Please remind me of this "hot take" after it happens. But, I do not believe the Nets 2027 pick will be anywhere as good as you assume today on 12/8/24. By the summer of 2026 the Nets will have the culture and talent to be a playoff team. Barring injuries in 2027 that pick will be 15th or higher which might not be super special in 2027.

JayTWill wrote:

R-DAWG wrote:

Godaddycurse wrote:Dont see how bridges is worth 3-4 firsts (depending on your view of whitmore)

He was just traded for 5 1sts, 1 swap and a high 2nd

We can all agree that was a historic overpay, but most thought he held the value of 3 1s

I think the Rockets proposal is about 75% of the value NY gave up for Mikal - 2 1s, 1 swap, 2 2nds and a 2nd year player who fell out of the rotation

I'm starting to wonder if a little of the value the Knicks gave up to get Bridges was also included for the Nets to take on Bogey's contract. I'm assuming his value tanked with his performance in New York. I believe he had 2 surgeries this off-season at the age of 35 and hasn't played a single game yet this season.

If New York wanted to dump a declining injured 35 years old making $19M for pure capspace it may have cost them a first.

The overall cost to acquire the player is the overall cost. The rationale for the cost is whatever.

Either way, the Knicks made the decision that they thought Bridges was worth one of if not the largest trade hauls in NBA history.

I'm very much happy to pass on paying this price for a 3&D guy

Super complex in season trade can happen, but usually you'd bet the under on that.

As for the trade in theory, IF Houston views Mikal as the best version of that then ok maybe we have something to talk about, but I doubt it, especially if NY is willing to punt after 2 months.

Houston's MO since Stone got there have been relatively passive on in season trades in general unless it's really small or really obvious.

Also, I don't think NY will admit defeat that easily, and Cam Whitmore is a project that will need an enviornment that would allow him to try stuff (so NY would be the worst of the 3 destination to end up in. )

Houston isn't really in much pressure to do anything this year, they're playing way better than anyone reasonably expected, and most of their kids have at least done something, I'm not quite sure why people keep wishing into existence a desperation on them that obviously doesn't exist.

R-DAWG wrote:

JayTWill wrote:

R-DAWG wrote:
He was just traded for 5 1sts, 1 swap and a high 2nd

We can all agree that was a historic overpay, but most thought he held the value of 3 1s

I think the Rockets proposal is about 75% of the value NY gave up for Mikal - 2 1s, 1 swap, 2 2nds and a 2nd year player who fell out of the rotation

I'm starting to wonder if a little of the value the Knicks gave up to get Bridges was also included for the Nets to take on Bogey's contract. I'm assuming his value tanked with his performance in New York. I believe he had 2 surgeries this off-season at the age of 35 and hasn't played a single game yet this season.

If New York wanted to dump a declining injured 35 years old making $19M for pure capspace it may have cost them a first.

The overall cost to acquire the player is the overall cost. The rationale for the cost is whatever.

Either way, the Knicks made the decision that they thought Bridges was worth one of if not the largest trade hauls in NBA history.

I understand that you feel the Mikal trade was an overpay. I feel the same way but if we are discussing the value of Mikal in that trade specifically you have to factor in that Bogey's contract may have not been seen as neutral value. The Nets have essentially paid $22M for 16mpg of Shake Milton and Bogey not playing. I don't think any team does that without being compensated in some way.

RollingWave wrote:Houston isn't really in much pressure to do anything this year, they're playing way better than anyone reasonably expected, and most of their kids have at least done something, I'm not quite sure why people keep wishing into existence a desperation on them that obviously doesn't exist.

yes, Houston is in a prime position to be very selective on who their big move target will be. Already good, very young, no tax issues for at least two more years, potentially more. They're not going to rush for the first guy with an awards section on his Basketball Reference page they can get

JKiddy wrote:

LarsV8 wrote:Mikal Bridges is a role player.

He was a pretty good role player a few years ago in a seemingly perfect situation for him, now his play has cratered.
-His cheap contract years are pretty much used up, and probably has a big contract coming.
-He is no longer has the young player "getting better" upside.

He was probably only worth 2-3 okay firsts when he was traded to the Knicks, and he is probably worth 1 less first now. Kudos to the Nets for fleecing New York, but you would be lucky to recoup half of what was sent out.

I would definitely still take him in Houston, but the 27 Nets pick is golden and we aren't moving that unless its for a star.

I would offer

Whitmore, Tate, Landale, 2025 #1, 2027 Phx #1 lottery protected

for

Bridges, 2026 #1

Please remind me of this "hot take" after it happens. But, I do not believe the Nets 2027 pick will be anywhere as good as you assume today on 12/8/24. By the summer of 2026 the Nets will have the culture and talent to be a playoff team. Barring injuries in 2027 that pick will be 15th or higher which might not be super special in 2027.

Wonder what your take was on the 2024 pick a few years ago

K_chile22 wrote:

RollingWave wrote:Houston isn't really in much pressure to do anything this year, they're playing way better than anyone reasonably expected, and most of their kids have at least done something, I'm not quite sure why people keep wishing into existence a desperation on them that obviously doesn't exist.

yes, Houston is in a prime position to be very selective on who their big move target will be. Already good, very young, no tax issues for at least two more years, potentially more. They're not going to rush for the first guy with an awards section on his Basketball Reference page they can get

i'd argue now is the best time to strike on a big ticket/high salaried star before your other young players' extension kicks in.

I probably would have assumed it would have been in the lottery since I predicted the rebuild this season. I probably assumed with the entire world the Nets would have either won or come much closer to winning a title or two and then most of the players would have left by now.

I do not think the 2027 Nets pick will be Top 5 based on everything that is currently starting to happen. Do you?