Was the Mikal Bridges Trade Worth the Overpay?

Many NBA fans believed the Mikal Bridges trade was a clear overpay, and they were correct.

The Knicks acquired Bridges this summer for Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, six first-round picks (one was a swap, but it still counts), and one second-round pick.

New York overpaid for Bridges— a player they believed would fit seamlessly with his Villanova buddies, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson.

Bridges’ Defensive Effort

Bridges has flashed his elite defensive ability and improved his offensive game, but it is far from consistent.

2021-2022, Bridges finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting and made an All-Defensive team. This season, he is not looking like his past self on the defensive end. No stat or percentile stands out when you examine Bridges’ defensive game. His best attribute has been his versatility and not fouling, putting him in the 90th percentile in both categories.

From a skill standpoint, Mikal Bridges has not fallen off defensively. His defensive issues are more related to his effort and toughness. Defensive coaches like Tom Thibodeau know that showing effort on defense can lead to more success.

Size, length, and skill play a part in the defense, but Bridges proved he has those attributes. Effort and toughness are what Knicks fans need to see more out of Bridges. The guy who is not afraid to guard the best player, someone willing to chase down a block and dive for a loose ball.

More Mid-range, fewer threes

Bridges does not have the offensive usage to compensate for his average defense.

Although he leads the NBA in minutes per game at 38.6, his usage percentage is 19.3%, the lowest of his career since 2021-22. Half the season is over, and fans would love to see Bridges more involved on the offensive end.

Bridges is averaging 17.9 points per game on 57.8% true shooting percentage (all shot efficiency). Those are mundane numbers for a player who was traded for six first-rounders.

His three-point shooting has not been great either. Bridges is at 35.2% for the season from behind the arc, making it the worst mark since his rookie season in 2018-19.

How can the Knicks make Bridges more effective? It starts with incorporating more mid-range shots. Bridges shoots 48.5% on mid-range shots but only attempts around two of these shots per game. The mid-range is not the most flashy in the NBA today, with everyone trying to chuck up three-pointers. The Knicks do a good job using Bridges as a slasher. Why not have more spot-up or isolation opportunities, especially with a center like Karl-Anthony Towns as a three-point threat?

New York would benefit from more mid-range shots. On the break threes, Bridges only shoots 27.9% on 3.3 attempts per game. The Knicks coaching staff should eliminate this shot from his game. Corner threes are not an issue for him, as he shoots 44.3% on at least three attempts.

Did the Knicks make a mistake with the Mikal Bridges trade?

New York still needs Mikal Bridges to play like the old Mikal Bridges.

It is too early to say whether the trade was a mistake for New York. The trade and the draft selections are irrelevant for the Knicks. Josh Hart said it best, “We could give up 15 picks— it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we’re trying to win a championship.”

Mikal Bridges is only 28 years old. He and the Knicks core of Brunson, Towns, Hart and OG Anunoby have time. As for this season, New York hopes to see a better and more consistent Bridges in the second half.

They need the player who Leon Rose and co. envisioned as the “third option.”