The Brooklyn Nets have no interest in trading Mikal Bridges, according to NBA insider Alex Schiffer of The Athletic.
Multiple teams could offer the Nets a high draft pick in this year’s draft for Bridges, but it appears Brooklyn will hold onto the talented small forward.
“League and team sources, who are not permitted to speak publicly about trades, have previously told The Athletic the Nets aren’t interested in trading Mikal Bridges, the prized return in the Kevin Durant trade,” Schiffer wrote. “They already turned down four first-round picks from the Memphis Grizzlies at the trade deadline for him, so why would this deal change that?”
The Phoenix Suns traded Bridges to the Nets in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade. Bridges took his game to another level with the Nets. The swingman averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 27 games with Brooklyn.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mikal Bridges & Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Nets got swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Bridges averaged 23.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the four-game sweep while shooting 42.9% from the field, 40.0% from beyond the arc and 78.3% from the free-throw line.
As Schiffer wrote, the Memphis Grizzlies offered the Nets four first-round picks for Bridges at the trade deadline. The Villanova product is one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA, so Brooklyn would be foolish to part ways with him.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mikal Bridges & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Bridges has career averages of 13.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Suns and Nets. He has the potential to be a perennial All-Star in Brooklyn, so don’t be surprised if Bridges spends the rest of his career with the Nets.
One NBA scout recently told NBA Analysis Network that Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard “would like to play with” Bridges, so maybe Brooklyn will try to trade for Lillard.
There are many directions the Blazers can go this summer,” the scout said. “A lot will depend on what Dame wants to do. That’s hard to tell right now since it’s so early. If you bank on every little rumbling, you’ll have a lot of conflicting info by the time the Combine even starts. One player I know he really would like to play with is Mikal Bridges. That doesn’t mean he has to do it in Brooklyn, though. That’s a trade target I’d keep an eye on if Portland tries to add a piece around Dame.”
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