Bridges Goes From Brooklyn To Manhattan

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

By Samori Benjamin            

Oklahoma Shows Hartenstein The Money

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon 

The Knicks pulled off a stunning move last week by acquiring swingman Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for five first round draft picks. Bridges was the big piece sent to the Nets when they traded Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns in February 2023. The move reunites Bridges with his college teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, who helped the Knicks to their highest win total in 11 seasons this past year. The four won championships together at Villanova University. Bridges averaged 19.6 points per game for Brooklyn last season which was down from his 26.1 points per game for the Nets in 27 games the previous season immediately after his trade to the Nets. The drop in production cooled the Nets on the idea that Bridges could be the star to lead them into a prosperous future so they parted ways and got as much draft capital as they could to build on.

The Knicks also resigned forward OG Anunoby who they traded for at the end of 2023, and he helped turn the Knicks season around from the first game he played for the team on New Year’s Day. The Knicks went 15-2 in their first 17 games after the trade. Only an injury to Anunoby and their other forward Julius Randle on the same day in late January caused the Knicks to falter. Before that point the Knicks were looking like they could hang with any team in the NBA. With OG Anunoby in the lineup last season the Knicks went 26-6. The Knicks did receive a loss in free agency as center Isaiah Hartenstein left for Oklahoma City on a three-year $87 million dollar contract. The Knicks desperately wanted Hartenstein back but because of salary cap rules Oklahoma City was able to offer Hartenstein considerably more money than the Knicks.