Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks has trashed reports that said Mikal Bridges requested a trade to the Knicks, complimenting and defending his former player while explaining why the Nets decided to accept the trade offer from the Knicks.
“I think it’s been reported that Mikal wanted to leave or requested a trade. That could not be further from the truth. I think that’s just not in Mikal’s character, it’s not who he is and that definitely did not happen. He was told by me when I called him up and let him know that we’re at the two-yard line.”
Marks made it clear that the Nets weren’t going to turn an offer like the one the Knicks sent down, calling it the best pathway for the team’s future.
“An offer like this from a team, we’re not going to turn that down… I believe that this was the best pathway for us to go down right now, instead of waiting, and we could have kept waiting. I mean, there’s no shortage of people who want to play with Mikal and the like because he’s a heck of a talent out there. And we’ll miss him.”
The offer was far too rich for Marks to hold onto archaic traditions such as the Knicks and Nets not making a trade in over 40 years.
“At the same time. when you have an offer like we did from New York, I think that sets us up on a very, very clear direction and pathway to continue to build this team for sustainable success.”
Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season, continuing his streak of games played while adding offensive elements to his defense-first game, making him a genuine two-way wing who’ll fit into the Knicks system like a glove.
The Knicks sent out six unprotected first-round picks for Bridges, the kind of price we see for superstar-level players in the NBA. Bridges might be a star in his role, but it’ll be hard for him to justify that cost through production. But if the Knicks win with Bridges, the entire fanbase would do the same trade again every single time.
Jalen Brunson And Josh Hart Were Shocked To See The Bridges Trade
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and forward Josh Hart never expected Bridges to land onto the franchise via trade despite their previous attempts at convincing Bridges to join the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson: “I never thought it would happen because when was the last time the Nets had done a trade with the Knicks?”
Josh Hart: “1983.”
Jalen Brunson: “When we used to see each other after games, everyone would be like, ‘Oh these guys are recruiting.’ I was like, well, it’s never gonna happen.”
Josh Hart: “You don’t really think it’s gonna happen but you’re like, let me mess with Mikal because that’s my guy. Then Nets fans just be saying random stuff all the time, so it was poking fun at the Nets a little.”
The core of the championship-winning Villanova Wildcats has been reconstructed on the Knicks, with Hart, Brunson, Bridges, and Donte DiVincenzo all part of that old Villanova roster. They’ll hope to parlay their championship experience as a group into the NBA and hopefully, bring home an NBA title after over 50 years for the Knicks.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
