Mikal Bridges was the New York Knicks premier offseason addition until a late-September trade for Karl-Anthony Towns which shocked the entire NBA world. With the Knicks building up a very expensive payroll, Bridges’ contract extension will be a matter to deal with soon. ESPN’s Bobby Marks was on the ‘Hoop Collective Podcast‘ and revealed that an extension for Bridges won’t be coming anytime soon.
“The indication I’ve gotten just from talking to people is that there is not going to be an extension, that he will wait until next year to look at what the extension. He’s limited as far as the six-month rule as far as what he can extend for. Next year, he can extend for four years. It just gives him more flexibility.”
Marks then clarified that he received his information before the Knicks made the swing for Towns, so that move could alter what Bridges’ plans were.
“That could certainly change by October 21st. Maybe this trade does change that thinking. This was talking to people before this [Karl-Anthony Towns] trade happened.”
The major question now rests with what contract Bridges signs when his time comes. He’s currently on a $48.2 million deal which expires in 2026. If his debut season with the Knicks goes well and they win a title, the Knicks might reward him with as big a contract as possible. If they don’t, it’ll likely come down to individual value.
Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on the Brooklyn Nets last season. The Knicks gave up one of the biggest trade packages of all time to acquire him, but it seems he won’t have a pronounced offensive role anymore, likely slotting in as the third option behind Brunson and Towns.
The Knicks Have Locked Up Their Core
The Knicks are in a very delicate situation with the salaries on their roster. They handed a max extension to OG Anunoby to ensure he didn’t walk as a free agent and will be paying the remaining four years and $220.4 million on Towns’ supermax contract.
Jalen Brunson’s discount contract extension from earlier this summer has made almost all of this possible, as Brunson left $113 million on the table to give the Knicks additional room to make such win-now moves as the Towns trade. This guarantees the Knicks will have the services of these three players, alongside Josh Hart for years to come due to their contracts.
Bridges is the only one who has yet to sign a long-term contract, but even his existing deal lasts until 2026. The Knicks have set themselves up for long-term success with a young core that’s entering its prime under a veteran head coach like Tom Thibodeau, so they’ll be hoping continuity and luck help them move forward.
Whether this team is strong enough to compete against the Boston Celtics remains to be seen, but this deal helps them add some distance between them and the rest of the East.
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