Mikal Bridges is really good (when he's allowed to be)

[seren]

I’d rather have RJ over Bridges. RJ goes to the line. He attacks. Bridges doesn’t. Sure Bridges has some decent three point shooting and cuts to the basket every once in a while but he isn’t doing that consistently.

[WargamesX]

I’d rather have RJ over Bridges. RJ goes to the line. He attacks. Bridges doesn’t. Sure Bridges has some decent three point shooting and cuts to the basket every once in a while but he isn’t doing that consistently.

Honestly RJ as our sixth man would be a cheat. Though I feel we could still do a lot of that if Hart was the sixth man too….

[spree2kawhi]

I’d rather have RJ over Bridges. RJ goes to the line. He attacks. Bridges doesn’t. Sure Bridges has some decent three point shooting and cuts to the basket every once in a while but he isn’t doing that consistently.

Bridges is twice the defender. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. That, and Bridges is a very good scorer from mid-range. He’s been rock-solid as of late. Where does this even come from? We traded Barrett for OG btw, this isn’t Disney Land.

[WaltFrazier]

I’d rather have RJ over Bridges. RJ goes to the line. He attacks. Bridges doesn’t. Sure Bridges has some decent three point shooting and cuts to the basket every once in a while but he isn’t doing that consistently.

Bridges is twice the defender. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. That, and Bridges is a very good scorer from mid-range. He’s been rock-solid as of late. Where does this even come from? We traded Barrett for OG btw, this isn’t Disney Land.

On a list of recent Knicks the team would like to get back, I'd say Divo, then Grimes, then RJ

[spree2kawhi]

I’d rather have RJ over Bridges. RJ goes to the line. He attacks. Bridges doesn’t. Sure Bridges has some decent three point shooting and cuts to the basket every once in a while but he isn’t doing that consistently.

Bridges is twice the defender. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. That, and Bridges is a very good scorer from mid-range. He’s been rock-solid as of late. Where does this even come from? We traded Barrett for OG btw, this isn’t Disney Land.

On a list of recent Knicks the team would like to get back, I'd say Divo, then Grimes, then RJ

I mean RJ is very good… at the same price? RJ. DiVincenzo fills a need though. They’d all be nice, but Bridges is by far the best of them.

[JXL]

Imagine if this team still had Divo in the starting lineup over Hart. You know how this offense would be near unstoppable?

[seren]

I’d rather have RJ over Bridges. RJ goes to the line. He attacks. Bridges doesn’t. Sure Bridges has some decent three point shooting and cuts to the basket every once in a while but he isn’t doing that consistently.

Bridges is twice the defender. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. That, and Bridges is a very good scorer from mid-range. He’s been rock-solid as of late. Where does this even come from? We traded Barrett for OG btw, this isn’t Disney Land.

I am well aware of the trade. I am just mentioning that because they are making similar salaries and RJ used to be a Knick. I am also pretty sure we could have found a different deal for OG if we were willing to add picks like we did for Bridges. Probably fewer than what we gave away.

[Clyde_Style]

I’d rather have RJ over Bridges. RJ goes to the line. He attacks. Bridges doesn’t. Sure Bridges has some decent three point shooting and cuts to the basket every once in a while but he isn’t doing that consistently.

Bridges is twice the defender. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. That, and Bridges is a very good scorer from mid-range. He’s been rock-solid as of late. Where does this even come from? We traded Barrett for OG btw, this isn’t Disney Land.

On a list of recent Knicks the team would like to get back, I'd say Divo, then Grimes, then RJ

I'd order that Grimes, then Divo. I like RJ as a person, but I'm not interested in him being a Knick again

Grimes was top scorer on his team again today (Sixers won this time against arguably a now worse team in the Mavs).

Grimes is a better defensive weapon than Divo and he is clearly his equal at this point as an offensive player, probably better long-term as he's just getting rolling now.

[WaltFrazier]

Bridges is twice the defender. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum. That, and Bridges is a very good scorer from mid-range. He’s been rock-solid as of late. Where does this even come from? We traded Barrett for OG btw, this isn’t Disney Land.

On a list of recent Knicks the team would like to get back, I'd say Divo, then Grimes, then RJ

I'd order that Grimes, then Divo. I like RJ as a person, but I'm not interested in him being a Knick again

Grimes was top scorer on his team again today (Sixers won this time against arguably a now worse team in the Mavs).

Grimes is a better defensive weapon than Divo and he is clearly his equal at this point as an offensive player, probably better long-term as he's just getting rolling now.

But is what Grimes is doing sustainable or is he just getting a green light on a tanking team right now?

Not trying to minimize the roll he's been on, just you see this sometimes, a guy getting hot for a short stretch

[Clyde_Style]

On a list of recent Knicks the team would like to get back, I'd say Divo, then Grimes, then RJ

I'd order that Grimes, then Divo. I like RJ as a person, but I'm not interested in him being a Knick again

Grimes was top scorer on his team again today (Sixers won this time against arguably a now worse team in the Mavs).

Grimes is a better defensive weapon than Divo and he is clearly his equal at this point as an offensive player, probably better long-term as he's just getting rolling now.

But is what Grimes is doing sustainable or is he just getting a green light on a tanking team right now?

Not trying to minimize the roll he's been on, just you see this sometimes, a guy getting hot for a short stretch

He is definitely getting the green light on a tanking team and he's putting up 25-35 most nights against whomever they play against so it is hardly relevant. Watch his highlights and you can see he is attacking the rim and finishing with strength or swishing from deep while also putting up good assist numbers.

Regarding the original point, I would take him over Divo, but I like them both so it's not so much a debate over the two players as much as whom I think may end up impacting a team's fortunes over the next several years. If Grimes cools off, then so be it, but he is clearly showing us how good he can be and that's more than can be said for lots of guys who never break out.

[WaltFrazier]

I'd order that Grimes, then Divo. I like RJ as a person, but I'm not interested in him being a Knick again

Grimes was top scorer on his team again today (Sixers won this time against arguably a now worse team in the Mavs).

Grimes is a better defensive weapon than Divo and he is clearly his equal at this point as an offensive player, probably better long-term as he's just getting rolling now.

But is what Grimes is doing sustainable or is he just getting a green light on a tanking team right now?

Not trying to minimize the roll he's been on, just you see this sometimes, a guy getting hot for a short stretch

He is definitely getting the green light on a tanking team and he's putting up 25-35 most nights against whomever they play against so it is hardly relevant. Watch his highlights and you can see he is attacking the rim and finishing with strength or swishing from deep while also putting up good assist numbers.

Regarding the original point, I would take him over Divo, but I like them both so it's not so much a debate over the two players as much as whom I think may end up impacting a team's fortunes over the next several years. If Grimes cools off, then so be it, but he is clearly showing us how good he can be and that's more than can be said for lots of guys who never break out.

That's fair. I saw a lot of the game where he had a big night against GSW, and last night I was thinking Grimes targeted Curry better than Mikal did. Playing the way he is for Philly he'd be a great sixth man for the Knicks. I do think we should have just kept him a year ago rather than the Detroit trade, and just waited for him to come around

[spree2kawhi]

Imagine if this team still had Divo in the starting lineup over Hart. You know how this offense would be near unstoppable?

Let’s not discount what Hart has done here.

[JXL]

Imagine if this team still had Divo in the starting lineup over Hart. You know how this offense would be near unstoppable?

Let’s not discount what Hart has done here.

Hart would be better suited for a 6th man role. I feel he's being relied on more or just as equally as Brunson is, yet he's not being aggressive enough with what's asked of him.

[TKKnicks1]

With the emergence of these podcasts it really gives you a better understanding of what these players go through nightly. Just saw one with JR Smith on what it was like to guard Ray Allen and Reggie Miller with fighting over screen after screen and it takes a toll on your body and legs that you just don't have anything left in the tank on the offensive end. Thibs been riding Mikal all season having him guard the other teams best player while playing close to 40 MPG! No wonder why his offense has dropped off as much as it has and some nights he doesn't even attempt more than 5 shots. This has a lot more to do with coaching than an individual players production. Once again Thibs never puts his players in the best position to thrive.

[spree2kawhi]

Imagine if this team still had Divo in the starting lineup over Hart. You know how this offense would be near unstoppable?

Let’s not discount what Hart has done here.

Hart would be better suited for a 6th man role. I feel he's being relied on more or just as equally as Brunson is, yet he's not being aggressive enough with what's asked of him.

I agree with that, but that doesn’t have anything to do with DiVincenzo (who I’d love to get back, make no mistake). You could start Robinson instead, bring Hart off the bench. That helps keep Towns out of foul trouble and you get a real spark off the bench. Furthermore, you certainly don’t lose anything in tens of defense or rebounding.

[Jalen Bluntson]

Let’s not discount what Hart has done here.

Hart would be better suited for a 6th man role. I feel he's being relied on more or just as equally as Brunson is, yet he's not being aggressive enough with what's asked of him.

I agree with that, but that doesn’t have anything to do with DiVincenzo (who I’d love to get back, make no mistake). You could start Robinson instead, bring Hart off the bench. That helps keep Towns out of foul trouble and you get a real spark off the bench. Furthermore, you certainly don’t lose anything in tens of defense or rebounding.

That's what has bothered me all season. Thibs never acted like he was waiting for Mitch. He never tried KAT at the 4 with HUK. Never made any attempt to involve the bench in anything other than using them for 50 random minutes a game with no rational explanation for his sub patterns at all. He really is a one trick pony. There has never been any creativity or willingness to try anything other than square pegs and round holes. Offense is predictable. Defense is predictable. Game plan against him is predictable too but, he doesn't seem to care. Just keep doing the same thing over and over. No matter what.

[Chanel Bomber]

Bridges is a solid role player. He's better in his role than RJ or Grimes.

He just wasn't worth the price the Knicks paid for him. Three years ago, we had an offer to acquire Donovan Mitchell for roughly the same cost. But they're not in the same universe as basketball players or as assets.

Trading our draft capital for him was a monumental mistake. One the Knicks might not recover from, in terms of reaching championship contention.

As far as his play is concerned, I think Bridges has been disappointing but solid. I don't think he's making much of an impact, but he's not hurting the team either. The team has several flaws, and no player on our roster is complete enough to escape accountability.

There is no one single issue with this team basketball-wise. But roster construction-wise, the lack of draft picks is phuggin us pretty spectacularly.

[JayTWill]

How many picks do people think Bridges was actually worth on his contract?

[JXL]

How many picks do people think Bridges was actually worth on his contract?

At the most, 2. His contract is really good for the production he brings.

Brooklyn wasn't willing to settle for 2. In reality, 28 other teams would bargain for 3 (2 + a pick swap), but since it's the Knicks, the Knicks tax, plus its with the Nets, made it 5.

[JayTWill]

How many picks do people think Bridges was actually worth on his contract?

At the most, 2. His contract is really good for the production he brings.

Brooklyn wasn't willing to settle for 2. In reality, 28 other teams would bargain for 3 (2 + a pick swap), but since it's the Knicks, the Knicks tax, plus its with the Nets, made it 5.

How much do you think it would have cost just to get a team to eat $23M+ in contracts (Bogey+Milton+Diakite) without sending anything back?