BLOCKBUSTER TRADE ♨️ Knicks acquiring Mikal Bridges ‘fits beautifully’ – Windy | Get Up
and it’s NBA draft day but we begin with a blockbuster trade from last night the Nova Knicks at another Wildcat getting Mel Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets according to W the Nets are sending him across town in exchange for six draft picks beginning next year Bridges will reunite with his former Villanova teammates Jaylen Brunson Josh Hart and Dante divon chenzo this was the first trade between the Knicks and the Nets since 1983 so to get Bridges to move from Manhattan to Brooklyn the Knicks had to pay a steep price something we’ll talk about later five first round picks are officially going back to the Nets while they’ll swap 2028 picks and that could be an eventual move up to make it a total of six picks but maybe the happiest person in all of New York is my guy Stephen A [Music] yes now I know that y’all are sitting out there and y’all saying it’s Mel Bridges he’s a good player but it ain’t like you got KD or somebody bup all that okay chemistry matters reliability matters consistency matters defense defense matters the brother can shoot the brother can play I’m sorry I like this move by the New York Knicks he’s young he’s energetic he’s seasoned he defends and he fits right in the to the culture of the New York Len that’s all I ask that’s all I ask baby you craw before you walk we crawled last year we going to walk and we close to sprinting I still think we need another Pace but we have moved in the right direction I like this I like this I like this go New York go do York go wo we crawl before we rise here we come I mean he’s not dramatic at all for a nick F who aren’t as happy who are going 1 2 3 4 Nova guys Wendy tell us more about this trade yeah so I think if you look at this on its face it isn’t the kind of Superstar trade that the Knicks were maybe envisioning when they were collecting these picks and and being patient over the years not going all in for Star players they didn’t like but I think you have a new reality now with the the new CBA it’s really not feasible to have three max contracts on your team and build out a team that can challenge a quality champion like the Boston Celtics so this accomplishes several things for the Knicks he just fits in so beautifully not just with the chemistry of his former college teammates of course but obviously you get a tall Wing lanky excellent Defender that is exactly what you need to match up with the with the Celtics and frankly any top team in the league but certainly with the Celtics and then one of the big factors here is he’s only making a little over $21 million next year that’s $30 million less than a player like Paul George who was a candidate maybe for the Knicks to go for a swing and this kind of move with that extra money you can keep OG an anobi and that combination is a really good um game plan to go up against a team like the Boston Celtics and I think maybe underscoring it all they are leaning into Jaylen Brunson as a superstar player they’re saying we don’t need to go out and acquire a superstar we have a superstar let’s now do things that support him Alan Han joining us for the second hour Allan when you heard about this trade what was your first reaction it was RC the final infinity stone that’s what it felt like when it you know when you think about the Villanova culture cats all getting together and really what they brought to the Knicks and how they have changed that franchise around with Jaylen Brunson Josh Hart and Dante D venzo and it was a flirtation that was going on all season long it was playing out in front of everybody in fact I want to correct you cuz the happiest man in New York is not St Smith it’s m Bridges because it’s literally what he wanted and we saw after games they would get together and talk they are friends obviously but still it was playing out in front of us it felt like something that seemed obvious to happen the Knicks had the picks to help the Brooklyn Nets the Nets had the player that the Knicks wanted that really did fit not only is he a Villanova guy but he does fit the way they want to play and a guy that would fit into what they want to do so it worked for both both franchises and they both the only question was is would Brooklyn really want to do this because it’s going to happen in front Josh Hart did a commercial with Mel Bridges a while back and in it there was a lie detector test and the lie detector test question was asked from Josh Hart to Mel Bridges would you like to be my teammate again and bridges said yes and the test said he is telling the truth so I mean this was a matter of time a matter of just making it happen and it’s a deal that worked out for both franchises I mean it’s better than the test saying you are the father Monica do you agree with Alan I was laughing too hard I didn’t hear your question Monica hey according to uh Allan Right this is the last infinity stone does this make the Knicks inevitable do you agree that this was the missing piece yes but now like Wendy said earlier you got to see if the ogn and Obi thing gets done I’m hopeful I don’t think they bring him here and don’t figure out a way to get this done there is still room when you add this piece but it just reiterates to me the importance of culture in locker rooms we were on this show last week piecing apart Paul George is sound talking about he was more concerned about the fit if he were to make a move as opposed to immediate Championship goals these guys fit they play well with one another they know each other they are also tibs type of guys I think one of the things that gave you a little bit of angst watching the Knicks at points last season is they would get into these late clock late in the shot clock situations and if Jaylen brunon was unable to create it usually ended up in a Josh Hart tough shot probably going to his left now he does have a knack for hitting them right but if you add a guy like Mel Bridges who can create can take advantage of the space and the gravity that Jaylen Bron creates off the bounce in a different way it makes sense both in terms of culture and the basketball of it all chemistry really matters in this league and you look at what they’ve been able to do historically together obviously it was in college but they won the championship in 2016 The Vibes Never Lie they’re going to play for each other they’re going to defend at a high level they’re switchable and we seen what the Boston Celtics were able to do with length with athleticism with poise with youth obviously you have Jason Jaylen Brown you have Jason Tatum but the role players have the ability to win games and swing games and what the Knicks are doing now is surrounding Jaylen Brunson with a super team of long athletic young skilled role players who all love each other are going to be willing to sacrifice for each other so I think the Knicks are in great position to obviously retain OG they have a decision to make with Julius Randle but I like what they’re doing and I like the way they’re surrounding Jaylen Brunson with his friends people that he likes and showing them that hey you’re going to be a part of this franchise for quite some time and it’s looking like a bargain based on what Jaylen Brunson is playing under right now from a contract standpoint wheny after after this trade what are some of the big moves the Knicks can make to close the gap even more with the Boston Celtics yeah so obviously they’ve got to get an anobi sign the way that this trade is currently structured and I know this is all new and this is all sort of you know new things for fans to learn it’s new things for teams to learn too the way this trade is structured the Knicks are going to hardap themselves uh they’re going to only be able to spend so much money has nothing to do with the luxury tax they’re just going to run into a wall that’s going to be created and that’s about $50 million more than they’ve already got they’ve got two big free agents oan noi who we just talked about and Isaiah hartenstein they also have two first round picks in tonight’s draft which they you know either can plan to use or maybe trade but right now they’re on their books that is going to be a a challenge to get all those guys under so you have to wonder if there are more moves coming to potentially free up more space um if you think about bringing back anobi and hartenstein and adding male Bridges that’s an incredibly strong team definitely a team that you could see as a serious Contender to the Celtics Monica does this move have Josh Hart playing in the Conference Finals instead of tweeting Tyrese halberton during the finals G isz RC uh listen there’s a real argument and I you know health is a conversation that at least three teams in the Eastern Conference could have been having the Pacers themselves I’ll give them their credit um the Philadelphia 76ers obviously and of course the New York Knicks but we’ve long said that if the Knicks had been healthy even in last year’s iteration yes they had lost to Boston previously earlier in the season but that was the prior version of the team that included RJ Barrett Emanuel quickley it was before the OG anovi trade which really did unlock a different level of both offense and defense for this team so if this team had been healthy I think they could have given the Boston Celtics a real run for their money this past season this one in particular another two-way guy that can space the floor the combination to me when I think of Defenders on this team Josh Hart o noi and terms of their versatility and now Mel Bridges been able to guard on the wings where most of your power players are yeah I I mean I think that this is really really smart and again the culture and chemistry is huge but the basketball makes sense as well Allan do you agree with Monica yeah I would say the one thing that I would look at is see what they do tonight as Wendy’s talking about I don’t think they’re done I think they’re could be some more activity tonight with this team from things I’ve heard and they also have to address one thing that they still still have an issue with when it comes to guarding the Boston Celtics they don’t have enough size you know they have Mitchell Robinson’s their seven-footer he’s the one guy that is Isaiah hardenstein is there is a center that they really love they want to resign him I’m not sure they’ll be going to be able to but he is you know not a typical like length seven-footer and when you’re guarding Chris as porzingis who can shoot those threes as we saw in the finals in that game one you’ve got to have somebody that can close out on a guy like him and also be a rim protector so so I wonder if while the Knicks have a really good Wing defense and good shooting and all the good things that fit around Jaylen Brunson the center position and size are still something I wonder about this team when it comes to contending CJ let’s say the Knicks are able to add that size that Allen is talking about is there enough Firepower offensively to scare you when you walk into Madison Square guard I don’t know that you would necessarily be scared but this is a deep team uh they obviously have the wings they have the defense they have tiido who’s going to play starters 35 to 45 minutes as the playoffs gets closer you got a three-level score Mel Bridges he thrives in a mid-range and this situation allows him to go back to his natural role as a number two number three and at times probably a number four guy depending on the night and the way the ball is moving in in in New York but I think you need depth you need athleticism you need length to Contin with the Boston Celtics they get all of those things if they bring back OG and anobi they have the right shooting they have the right defense they have the right amount of depth um to allow them to be successful and to potentially be able to offset some of the past injuries they’ve had um especially this past season in the playoffs well the one thing this signifies to me is there’s one team in New York that’s trying to compete and another one that’s not being so quiet about the fact that they aren’t [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] is
On Get Up, Brian Windhorst, Alan Hahn, Monica McNutt and CJ McCollum join Ryan Clark to discuss if the New York Knicks trading with the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges makes them title contenders next season.
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
📱Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
☑️Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
23 Comments
Cavs had no health issues?!?!? Bias showing
Aanndddd not ONE word was said about their second best player Randle? Who is an all star 😅 come on now lol
I still don't see a title with this Combo. Grizzlies are taking it all next year
5:00 wild joke to make on ESPN LMAO
C Robinson
Pf Randle
Sf O.G
Sg Bridges
Pg Brunson
Bench Donte, Hart, Achuiwa,
Looks pretty solid
Celtics at +280 for title meanwhile knicks are 10/1. Celtics clearly still the best team in league
I love how Windy is now the entire ESPN slate for basketball. Every show he is on
Uncle Gil is just talking about their style of play, when they are cold, they just keep shooting threes, which is true but if they ever figure out the balance of taking great shots. They will definitely be next dynasty. I’m rooting for them for sure unless it’s against my warriors 😂😂😂
Don't start hyping them up as always
Net weird about r l b about randle from Knicks what he go do
Rocket might get d lillard from buck or net get him
Net call the bucks you want to get d lillard or or center from buck forgot his name
How Stephen A make fun of cowboys fans he also delusional
Yes, Jalen Brunson is a superstar, but in today's NBA you need AT LEAST 2 or 3. With the role players and talent the Knicks have you need 2.
"missing piece?" No it's scarier then that. There wasn't a missing piece. The only thing gatekeeping ny from the ECF before was injuries. Now with Mikal this is a scary team.
Anything Stephen root for is bad luck. Really a fairweather supporter.
Brooklyn to Manhattan
Infinity stone ? All I see are Nova Corps
Knicks on hopium while Celtics have rings
You're a positive force! 😊 _ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."
He really just say "Go Ninja! Go Ninja! Go!" ?
Paul Pierce having nightmares….his Celtics dynasty lasted one year
Nah… Eric Paschall is the final piece