The Brooklyn Nets have completed a significant overhaul of their roster, trading their top player, Mikal Bridges, to the New York Knicks, sources told on Tuesday. Additionally, they secured a deal with the Houston Rockets to reclaim the franchise’s first-round picks lost in the James Harden trade.
In the aftermath of the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving eras, the Nets had been oscillating between aiming for the playoffs and entering the draft lottery.
With this move, the Nets have decisively charted a new course, now boasting 16 first-round picks available through 2031, including four selections in the highly anticipated 2025 NBA draft.
While the Nets were entertaining offers from several teams for Bridges, his strong desire to reunite with his three former Villanova teammates on a championship contender, coupled with the Knicks’ confidence in retaining him long term, spurred New York to commit their draft assets to secure the trade, sources said.
Nets general manager Sean Marks and Knicks president Leon Rose accelerated their discussions on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Ultimately, New York overwhelmed the market by offering four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031), a protected 2025 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks, an unprotected 2028 pick swap, and a 2025 Brooklyn second-round selection, sources reported.
Almost simultaneously, the Nets were in talks with Houston to recover their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks.
Mikal Bridges (Photo: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
They exchanged these for Phoenix’s 2025 and 2027 picks and a potential 2029 first-round pick swap, contingent on it being the most favorable among the Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix firsts.
This maneuver positions the Rockets to be aggressive in future trade scenarios, particularly if the Suns decide to disassemble their roster. For now, the Suns aim to continue their pursuit of success with Durant and Devin Booker.
However, the Rockets acquiring Phoenix’s picks gives them leverage for a possible deal should a Suns star, especially Booker, who aligns with the Rockets’ timeline at 27, become available. Durant could also be a potential target.
With the commitment to the Bridges trade, the Nets saw it as logical to reclaim the picks lost in the Harden deal. This strategy ensures that finishing lower in the standings could yield high rewards in the 2025 draft, with prospects like Ace Bailey, Cooper Flagg, and Dylan Harper in sight.
The Nets had explored acquiring star-level players to pair with Bridges, but those players were not available.
Brooklyn received substantial interest from several teams, including Memphis and Utah, willing to offer significant draft packages for Bridges earlier this week, sources said.
Nonetheless, New York had amassed an impressive array of assets, including nine first-round picks available for trades, and Rose’s offer ultimately prevailed, marking the first trade between the two teams since 1983.
More trades for assets could be on the horizon for the Nets on draft day Wednesday, sources indicated. The 16 first-round picks could increase if Brooklyn finds a suitable deal for Cam Johnson.
This trade represents the beginning of a comprehensive rebuild for the Nets, driven by the Knicks’ persistent pursuit of Bridges on Tuesday.
