ORANGE & BLUE SKIES BABY! 🟠🔵 Stephen A. reacts to Mikal Bridges to the Knicks | First Take

ORANGE & BLUE SKIES BABY! 🟠🔵 Stephen A. reacts to Mikal Bridges to the Knicks | First Take

moves first of all can we talk about this welcome to First Take everybody I’m Molly carum Christopher madog Russo Brian wior Stephen A Smith we’ll be here any second Bob Myers will there he is Stephen A back in the old stomping grounds after seven years here in Bristol Stephen A it’s like a high school reunion not only that we have made a decision you and I what from now on on Gale Connecticut now on every Wednesday in the person we want everybody in Bristol no more Manhattan no traffic little boo somewhere 5T from his house from now on right Wednesdays Wednesday Wednesday’s right here I will I will say this I will say this normally I would sit up there and say you have lost your damn mind you need to get drug tested because I ain’t trying to come to Bristol but considering the fact that y’all are in a studio and they have me in a damn Closet in New York City doing the show today I mean I might consider it I might consider coming to you deserve better than Stephen A you deserve better you do you do my my closet is bigger than this go ahead oh I’m I’m sure it is Stephen are you excited for the NBA draft that’s what I right but I’m I’m more excited for something to happen in New York last night blue skies baby BL happen I mean it’s kind of like Villanova’s taking over your neck so let’s I don’t give a damn a little New York on New York action there we go look at those clouds the Knicks coming off an incredible season despite being riddled with injuries and they’re now going all in for next season after after acquiring male Bridges from the Nets Brooklyn is piling up picks according to WJ sending bonovich for unprotected first round picks a 2025 protected first rounder via the Bucks in a 2028 unprotected pick Swap and a 2025 second rounder for the bridges did you get all that there we go it’s on the screen for you so you can marinate on for a second okay sa talk to me how big of a deal is this Bridges trade it’s a very big deal it’s a very big deal you see Wy you know that that that that that that kudin sit next to you named Mad Dog Russo he’s going to try to poo poo this moment but it’s not going to happen baby orange and blue skies baby orange and blue skies the city is buzzing because we understand what’s transpired last night now do I like five first round picks four unprotected no I don’t but my god when you consider this kid Mel Bridges and what he brings to the table a just a paragon of stability the man played all 82 games last year averaged 19 points 26 points when he first arrived in Brooklyn from Phoenix he shoots about 37% from three-point range he could put the ball in the hole from the outside he can score in the open court he could finish at the basket and most importantly he is an elite Defender now we got to keep and OG and anobi I understand he wants his money damn it don’t think about going down in the city of brother love it’s Gotham City baby this is where you belong OG and the Nob you understand you look at the New York Knicks right now and what you have in place you’ve got a steady hand who’s young who’s tenacious defensively who’s a Workhorse who doesn’t miss a lot of action an elite defensive player I love what I’m seeing yes the relationship he has with the other three Villanova Boys in Brunson D Vin chenzo and Har yes that goes a long way I understand that and if you’re Tom tiido who did a great great job last year you got to do again this year because the New York Knicks got better that doesn’t mean they’re complete they still need another big time piece make no mistake about it but right here the core the nucleus of the New York Knicks props to Leon Rose props to worldwide rest hell if gersa roas had something to do with it props to him too I don’t give a damn what it is right now I’m looking at the New York Knicks and the only team I definitively see above them is the reigning defending NBA champion Boston Celtics anybody else you got some work to do cuz the New York Nicks baby the culture the fire you understand the tenacity the defense all of that stuff it’s here it’s here this is the kind of stuff that I’m talking about right now great great great move by the New York Knicks I absolutely love it I don’t like the first round picks but you do have 11 first round picks over seven years going into to this move so you still got an abundance of first round picks at your disposal I love what I’m seeing I’m incredibly happy there’s more work to do but we took a step up last night and I couldn’t be happier you want me to go put cold water on this thing Brian before you do it wait oh my God take it ice cold cold plunge let’s this is not Howard kives for Dave the busher will you please look at up in the mid 60s I mean he is not the missing piece to win a championship does make the Knicks marginally better absolutely are the Knicks a team now that could win 53 54 games absolutely does tibo have any problem with the Villanova guys to coach no way he get into the heart and d jenzo and now him and of course Brunson no problem did Shawn marks finally do something right that guy’s been there forever he’s done nothing right coaches included yes the picks with the Nets is probably a good move so I have no problem with that either but take it easy Steve they got a marginally better they were he’s a nice player but you know listen when the Nets got him from Phoenix he was supposed to be a Lynch pin for their next decent Nets team and they couldn’t even make the playoffs so before you sit there and tell me that he’s going to score a 24 game and get them real close to Boston put them ahead of need toore will they go further in the playoffs how much further further they probably would they probably would have beaten Indiana if they weren’t banged up to begin damn it they didn’t they didn’t now you get an extra security blanket that’s going to pull that off for you okay that’s what you do I mean if one cover doesn’t work for you if the sheets don’t keep you warm covering you you throw a quilt over you that’s what they did okay I mean there’s nothing wrong with it the fact of the matter is you’re saying marginal marginal I’m sorry I believe this move makes the New York Knicks one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference I think it makes them anyway anyway excuse me no one could say that one could say if mbid was healthy that’s not the case ifis was healthy that’s not the case they could say something like that I don’t give a damn if they are healthy now I like the young nucleus of the New York Knicks again they still a piece of away but I’m looking that the New York Knicks is a top six team in the National Basketball Association compete for an NBA championship I like what they did and not on its face but let but let’s take a step back and look at this if this was a year ago and you saw this trade happen you said five first round picks in in a in a pick swap or four whatever it was five first in a pick swap for for a guy who’s never been an All-Star you’d say this doesn’t make sense the value proposition is off but you’re going to hear this repeatedly from people like me in the coming weeks the new rules in this new CBA really change the game you just it’s very hard to have three max players on your C on your payroll in this in this new world and if you got three they all better be playing like max players you can’t have a guy as your third max player who’s playing like a non-max player so what this is first off this is a vote from the Knicks to say we now think we’re going to be a really good team for the next five or six years we’ve got guys in their 20s who we’re going to have under control under under contract we don’t think that our picks are going to be that good we believe the team that we have built is going to be good for a while that’s number one number two this directly goes as Stephen A said to the Boston Celtics they know that the Celtics are terrific on the wing if you’re going to have a chance to beat them out of seven you got to have an answer for Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown that’s what this is It’s the combination of bridges and oan noi get to in a second third he makes $21 million okay we were talking last week about could the Knicks get in on Paul George that would have been a trade that would have definitely helped them against the Celtics Paul George has going to make $50 million this year if you have Paul George it becomes much harder to to pay for ogan and noi and not because the Knicks don’t have the money but because of the rules that what you’re allowed to spend and the aprons just trust me it becomes much much harder fourth this is a vote of confidence in Jaylen Brunson this is saying we don’t need to trade for a superstar we have a superstar and not only do we have him we’re going to put stuff around him that is going to help him Thrive now let me just get to the ogan anobi part yeah Oobi is now in a command position the only way this move really works and closes ground on the Celtics is if it’s anobi and bridges especially if you look what the Knicks traded for anobi and bridges because I’m going to put those deals together I’m going to look at RJ Barrett Emanuel quickley boan bogdanovich and these picks that’s essentially one big giant deal to get these two Wing players to deal with Tatum and brown but to make that work you got to close the deal with with anobi anobi is get in position to ask for a Max contract he may not be a max player but the Knicks have got to keep them meanwhile down 95 in Philadelphia they’re looking at Boston hanging a banner they’re looking at New York making these moves and they’re holding $50 million in salary cap space they got to be saying what are we going to do about this if ogan anobi reaches free agency unrestricted free agency on Sunday without making a deal with the Knicks I don’t see why Philly doesn’t come in and offer him a full Max and New York has to know that and and and and Philly has to know that and OG has to know that and here’s the key with these new rules and again I know it’s hard and it’s different and it’s going to be it’s going to be a learning process for everybody the Knicks are now hard capped with this trade they could only spend to a certain level you’re just going to have to trust me on this and it’s about $50 million more after this trade they need to try to fit oan anobi and the rest of their team into that that is why you have W saying last night he doesn’t know if they’re going to be able to keep Isaiah Haren ah so those are all factors look look look look I appreciate the expertise I mean thank you very very much for all of that information which you know I knew already but I really appreciate it but but see this is the problem that I have with with with with these non New York Nick fans y’all are not appreciating the moment okay I want you and you know and with you Wendy is totally understandable being a great NBA analyst and Insider that you are love you bro it’s not about you that benedict on it right there that guy that had I mean this is a Hall of Famer Molly this is a Hall of Famer this is a man that’s been in radio for 40 plus years this is mad dog Russo that we’re talking about where did he make his bones where did where did the backdrop come from it was in New York City out time out looking out for you we’re protecting your heart all right that’s what we’re doing oh my God you didn’t interrupt me to say that we do we have to protect your heart sometimes you’re fragile when it comes to your New York Knicks we’ve seen you in deep prayer we’re excited about it we’re a little enthusiastic it’s just like pump the brakes let’s take it one step at a time he [Music]

ORANGE & BLUE SKIES BABY! 🟠🔵 Stephen A. reacts to Mikal Bridges to the Knicks | First Take
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Brian Windhorst react to the New York Knicks acquiring Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
#firsttake #nba #espn

0:00 Stephen A.’s thoughts on Knicks acquiring Mikal Bridges
4:50 How big of a deal is this trade?
5:45 Stephen A. & Mad Dog get heated
6:50 Brian Windhorst’s thoughts on the trade
10:25 Stephen A. says people aren’t appreciating this trade

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