KNICKS-NETS TRADE BREAKDOWN: Mikal Bridges “perfect” fit, Nets get a HAUL | NBA Analysis

KNICKS-NETS TRADE BREAKDOWN: Mikal Bridges “perfect” fit, Nets get a HAUL | NBA Analysis

we bring in TVs sports NBA writer Brad botkin and Brad when you look at this deal that the Nets made with the Knicks how shocked are you that they were able to get five first rounders and that’s not all of the deal for a guy who is a really good player but he’s not of the caliber of a Kevin Durant or a yanis Sant DMO LeBron James yeah this is a huge hall for the Nets but oh my God I’m so Juiced about this deal not a Knicks fan but just as an NBA Guy this is a fantastic deal for both sides you’re right to command five first round picks four of them unprotected seven picks in total and a swap for Mel Bridges in a vacuum seems extreme how does he get that but it’s the context because he is so perfect for the New York Knicks they don’t have to compromise their identity they didn’t go out and spend that Treasure Trove of of picks on a star that would take over the identity of the team now they went and they tried to get Donovan Mitchell but they pulled back the last second they kind of made some offers for an Alex Caruso they have they have tried other avenues but they have never gotten so greedy that they didn’t wait for the right opportunity and this is the right opportunity so in a vacuum no Mel Bridges should not command that kind of bring back but to the Knicks and what he brings to their team it is so vital adding him I I just can’t overstate this enough how great of a deal they Ser to the Knicks and the Nets benefit from that because the Knicks know that he is worth what they just gave up in the context of this team right it’s all about fit and how does he work in the system with that being said Brad how do you think this elevates the Knicks when it comes to the top dogs the East the M well not the Milwaukee Buck the Boston Celtics right the Sixers the Bucks all those teams how does that give them a leg up now adding a guy like Mel Bridges who is so versatile unbelievable unbelievable I mean they are right there I really truly believe they just put themselves right there with Boston I wouldn’t have ruled out a healthy Knicks team in this last postseason this team has built something real and that again that’s why I love this kind of pickup this particular makeup of pickup for the Knicks because I just can’t overstate this enough if you go out and get a big name guy um a Paul George that that typically this kind of Hall brings in your whole team changes you you put the ball in the hands of somebody else Jaylen Johnson sort of loses some of that hierarchy they keep everything that they built in place okay Jaylen Brunson keeps the ball right now they still have Julius Randall he’s a guy that Still Remains a secondary Creator Mel Bridges who was sent to the Nets and sort of initially expected to be a 1A type of guy that is not what Mel Bridges is meant to do he was being overtasked in that way he is a stone cold killer as your number two or three just unbelievable so everything comes together and this is the biggest thing defense on the perimeter has never more important we just saw Boston show that to everyone in the league they just went out and they shut down LCA donic and Kyrie Irving they rolled through the the playoffs the conference the the Eastern Conference playoffs and in through the finals because they can smother you all over the place Derek white Drew holiday Jason Tatum all these guys can guard the ball guard multiple positions you can’t switch them into matchups that they can’t get away with there’s nobody to hunt who are you going to hunt on the New York Knicks right now they’re going to have an elite rim protector either Mitchell Robinson or Isaiah hardenstein they probably won’t be able to bring both of them back Jaylen Brunson is underrated as a Defender he is not a weak link and then assuming they bring back OG anobi Mel Bridges and Josh Hart you have no holes defensively you are versatile you’re switchable this is the blueprint that the Celtics just showed everyone you have to be able to defend without wounded prey the opposing opposition can hunt offensively the Nick short everything up here just an incredible deal for them no it is amazing to say the least now you bring up defense o and Obi I’m glad you brought that up um How likely do you think the Knicks are going to give OG anobi what he wants because as we’ve seen or as we saw in the regular season he was very impactful for that team one of the key cornerstones if you will huge I mean I think would they give up him three picks so even before this deal you can’t give up three picks for a guy for a half of a season and then let him walk for nothing in free agency and now I just can’t see if you read the tea leaves here would the Knicks go out and spend five first round picks on Mel Bridges if he was basically just going to be a switch you know for ogan anobi it would be a wash you You’ been spending five first round picks you could have just kept anobi they’re largely the same player so no I just don’t see the Nicks making this deal if they don’t have a good idea that they have ogan and Obi in house that might mean they have to overpay him a little bit there have been some reports out there that OG anobi knows that he’s got the Knicks in in some leverage situation here because of what they gave up for him and now on top of this deal they have put themselves in a position where they’re gonna have to pay OG anobi but I believe they will do it I can’t see any scenario that they go out and spend five first round picks just to replace Place OG anobi that that that wouldn’t even get them really any closer than they were last year You’ just be flipping out anobi for Mel Bridges it’s the combination of the two it’s the two Elite perimeter Defenders I.E Drew holiday and Derek white the the combination of those in addition to the secondary offensive creation and the shooting that you’re going to get from Mel Bridges that’s what takes the Knicks to the next level so I don’t believe there’s any way they’re going to let ogan and Obi go I also don’t believe they’re done they’re going to have to probably trim some salary because they’re now hard capped they probably won’t be able to afford Isaiah hardstein who’s going to get a big payday himself and now we can talk about the trickle down effects and who would be a potential Suitor for him but I think they probably keep they’re going to keep Mitchell Robinson that’d be my guess hardenstein out now you’ve got Elite Rim protection with Elite perimeter Defenders around it that’s what Boston did I I can’t say this enough the blueprint they laid with all those perimeter switchable Defenders and then Christal porzingis at The Rim backing them up we saw it with Minnesota the number one ranked defense all year one of the best defenses we’ve seen in recent memory Jaden McDaniels Anthony Edwards all these guys on the perimeter dogs on the perimeter and if you happen to get by him Rudy goar on the back line and now that’s what the Knicks have set up dogs on the perimeter that can switch everything that can pressure the ball and if you get by them Mitchell Robinson’s waiting for you so this is an I just I know I’m I’m repeating myself but this is just a an unbelievable deal for the Knicks and for the Nets too uh they’re going to tank the next couple of years and and they just they they have got I mean I’m G to have to count them up but they probably have more picks or at least somewhat in the ballpark as OKC now they piled up picks it’s a hard reset for them good deal and to again to get this many picks for Mel Bridges um they took advantage of the context of the Knicks and the facts that he was so valuable to them in this particular moment on this particular team and they got a huge haul for him coming back so I mean this is just a a big win for both sides it certainly is one of the best deals the Nets front office has made and the Knicks as well as you talk about with the defense for the Knicks it also gives him more depth right so Tom thibo doesn’t have to run his guys as much as he used to in the past love it for both of them as you said Brad botkin we appreciate your time and your fiery and entertaining analysis no problem and look at this right Mel Bridges about come to the Nets and then this was a couple weeks ago by the way and Josh Hart responds are you okay if they have you hostage just blink and we’ll save you well they saved him right because he’s now with the New York Knicks and linking up with Josh Hart Dante D Chino and Jaylen Brunson

Brad Botkin joins CBS Sports HQ to break down what he sees as a win-win for the Knicks and Nets.

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