The Brooklyn Nets executed a major roster overhaul, trading their star player Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. Simultaneously, they secured a deal with the Houston Rockets to regain their first-round picks lost in the James Harden trade.
After wavering between playoff contention and draft lottery positioning post-Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets decisively set their course, now possessing 16 first-round picks through 2031, including four in the highly anticipated 2025 NBA draft.
According to sources, the Nets entertained offers from multiple teams for Bridges. However, his desire to reunite with his former Villanova teammates on a championship-caliber team, coupled with the Knicks’ assurance of a long-term commitment, prompted New York to aggressively pursue the trade. The Knicks, in turn, overwhelmed the market with a substantial package including four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031), a protected 2025 first-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks, an unprotected 2028 pick swap, and a 2025 second-round selection from Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, the Nets engaged in negotiations with Houston to retrieve their 2025 and 2026 first-round picks, offering Phoenix’s 2025 and 2027 picks and the option to swap for the most favorable of Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix’s first-round picks in 2029. This move positions the Rockets strategically for future trade opportunities with the Suns, should they undergo roster changes.
With the Bridges trade solidified, the Nets pursued the draft assets initially traded for Harden, ensuring their ability to rebuild effectively while aiming for top draft prospects in 2025, such as Ace Bailey, Cooper Flagg, and Dylan Harper.
Brooklyn had previously sought star-level players to complement Bridges but found no viable options, leading them to capitalize on significant draft packages offered by several teams, including Memphis and Utah. This marked the first trade between the Nets and Knicks since 1983, highlighting New York’s proactive accumulation of assets under President Leon Rose.
Sources indicate the Nets may continue to pursue trades for assets during Wednesday’s draft, potentially expanding their cache of 16 first-round picks if deals for players like Cam Johnson materialize. Thus, the Nets have embarked on a comprehensive rebuild, catalyzed by the Knicks’ determined pursuit of Bridges.