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Regardless of having an in any other case robust low season, the New York Knicks could have made a vital mistake by signing star guard Mikal Bridges to a 4-year, $150 million extension. That transfer has drawn criticism from some who query whether or not Bridges is value that quantity.
Bridges takes a slight low cost from his max extension quantity ($156M) as a way to assist the Knicks have flexibility to proceed constructing the roster and add items to the East championship contender. https://t.co/IrvEbtRjSe
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 31, 2025
They could have a degree. Whereas Bridges is a star, he is not a conventional one. He is not a typical third choice who can rating 20 factors constantly; as a substitute, he averaged a stable, if unspectacular, 17.6 factors per sport final season.
As a substitute, he’s extra of a high-level position participant who can defend at a excessive stage, is extremely sturdy, and may get sizzling from outdoors within the mid-range. That’s precious, however solely to a degree.
The Knicks do not essentially have to have a constant third choice with two terrific offensive gamers in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities. However, paying Bridges $37.5 million a 12 months as soon as his extension kicks in is very questionable.
For one, it might probably handcuff the Knicks in a few seasons with them paying Brunson, Cities, Bridges, and OG Anunoby all no less than $40 million.
The New York Knicks doubled down on Mikal Bridges
The Knicks might have probably held off on signing him to an extension till Bridges confirmed that he was value that quantity. Or, they might have paid him a lot lower than the max.
He solely took a $6 million pay lower, the equal of $1.5 million a season, when it is questionable whether or not he would have made that a lot if he hit free company after subsequent season.
A part of the Knicks being prepared to pay him that a lot is as a result of Brunson took a pay lower and the group gave up 5 firsts to accumulate him. On reflection, 5 firsts for Bridges is a laughable overpay. Particularly when the Los Angeles Lakers gave up a primary for Luka Doncic.
Even should you have in mind that they gave up Anthony Davis, he could have solely been definitely worth the equal of two firsts. The Knicks would completely like to have a few these picks again since it could give them much more flexibility, however that ship has sailed. And, as a substitute of making an attempt to repair their mistake by not overpaying Bridges, they lock him up for close to the max, a transfer they might quickly remorse.
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