Mikal Bridges likely isn’t going anywhere for the New York Knicks. The team gave up no shortage of draft capital to acquire him, and recently awarded him with a four-year, $150 million extension.
However, if he were to be traded, he could make up some of the money that he left on the table to stay in New York. Bridges left roughly $6 million on the table in order to give the Knicks extra financial flexibility.
Per Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron, Bridges’ new contract comes with a 5.69 percent trade kicker if traded before 2028. That kicker is worth $6.17 million, meaning he’d re-claim his lost money should he be dealt.
While it’s always fun to think about interesting wrinkles in contract situations, it doesn’t seem likely that Bridges is going anywhere unless it’s for a superstar talent. Last season, he averaged 17.6 points per game, and was crucial to the Knicks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bridges perhaps earned his stripes as a Knick when he made game-winning defensive plays in Games 1 and 2 of the Knicks’ second round matchup with the Boston Celtics. The Knicks would go on to win the series in six games and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
For now, Bridges remains a part of the team’s long-term future, and will be a key contributor to a team that is now entering a legitimate championship window.
