The Brooklyn Nets don’t plan to trade Mikal Bridges, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Nets remain committed to building around Bridges, who was acquired by Brooklyn from the Phoenix Suns last season in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade.
Bridges is averaging 20.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks this season while shooting 45.6% from the field, 36.0% from beyond the arc and 83.2% from the free-throw line. He’s making $21.7 million.
The Nets are 15-19 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Brooklyn is currently on a four-game losing streak. The team has lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets Updates
NBA insider Zach Lowe of ESPN reported last season that one team offered the Nets four first-round picks for Bridges after the Durant trade. Brooklyn, of course, decided to keep Bridges. Several contenders would love to acquire the Villanova product since he’s one of the top two-way players in the NBA.
Bridges’ relationship with the Nets started to become a hot topic after Brooklyn head coach Jacque Vaughn only played the swingman 12 minutes against the Bucks. Bridges played the entire first quarter and then was benched for the rest of the game. It was a predetermined plan by Vaughn, who only played Bridges because of the forward’s active playing streak.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets Updates
“The streak is, I guess, for everyone else to talk about,” Bridges said after the Nets-Bucks game. “But I don’t just get in there for the streak. I get in there to play the game and because I want to go out there and win. I don’t go in there to just sub in, get the streak and whatever. I just want to play.”
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