The Brooklyn Nets are standing firm in their decision to not trade Mikal Bridges as the NBA trade deadline approaches on February 8th. Despite offers from the Houston Rockets that included multiple first-round picks, the Nets have zero interest in parting ways with Bridges, as he is considered a key player for their future plans.
Currently, the Nets are sitting at a 20-29 record and are far from being championship contenders. However, the team seems hesitant to trade Bridges for several reasons. Firstly, he has a team-friendly contract that extends for two more years beyond this season with an annual salary of less than $25 million. Additionally, the upcoming 2024 NBA draft class is not expected to be particularly strong, so the Nets may prefer to acquire picks in 2025 or later. Lastly, they may want to evaluate the draft lottery order before considering any trade involving their best player.
While Bridges' contract is advantageous for the Nets at the moment, the situation may change in a few years. The new collective bargaining agreement stipulates that teams can offer players higher starting salaries in extensions. Consequently, Bridges' contract in 2025-26, the final year of his current deal, limits the Nets to offering him a four-year max extension worth $156.2 million. However, the cap figures to increase significantly in the coming years, potentially exceeding $170 million by 2026.
This poses a challenge for the Nets as Bridges could potentially command a much higher salary as a free agent in 2026. Although it remains to be seen if any team would be willing to offer him such a lucrative deal, the opportunity to explore the market and secure a substantial payday could be enticing for Bridges.
A precedent has been set by players like Dejounte Murray, who turned down the chance to pursue a max contract in favor of a long-term agreement that offered financial security. The uncertainty surrounding the league's new financial landscape and penalizations for teams exceeding the luxury tax might affect whether players like Bridges ultimately receive full max contracts.
Given that Bridges is under contract for two more years, the Nets have no immediate urgency to trade him before the trade deadline. Waiting until the offseason seems like a sensible decision, allowing them to assess their results from another postseason and the draft lottery. However, if Bridges expects anywhere near his max salary in his next contract, the Nets will be unable to offer him that before he becomes a free agent. While the Nets possess his Bird rights, which allow for higher annual raises, they must also be willing to pay the significant amount required to re-sign him.
It would be prudent for the Nets to keep their options open and consider potential trade offers for Bridges if they don't secure another star player by the summer of 2026. While they may want to see how the upcoming offseason unfolds and assess their ability to attract additional talent, it would be a missed opportunity if they fail to maximize Bridges' value in a potential trade.
It's worth noting that the Nets have already committed their 2024 and 2026 first-round picks to the Rockets, with a provision allowing the Rockets to swap picks in 2025 and 2027. If the Rockets were to offer some of those picks back, along with Jalen Green and other young prospects, it could provide the Nets with a rebuilding opportunity using their own draft picks, rather than relying solely on trades and free agency to bolster their roster.
Ultimately, the Nets must carefully weigh their options and consider their long-term goals. If by 2025 they haven't acquired another star player, Bridges' value could decrease due to the restrictions on his extension talks. While the temptation to gamble on attracting stars to play alongside Bridges may exist, the downside would be failing to maximize the return on a potential trade if they ultimately decide to move him.
As the trade deadline looms, the Nets' decision regarding Mikal Bridges will have long-term implications for their future. The team must strike a balance between their commitment to their current core and the potential value they could obtain in a trade.
