After Jalen Brunson accepted a contract extension with the New York Knicks that left $113 million on the table, new addition Mikal Bridges might follow suit.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there’s an “expectation” that Bridges will likely sign a team-friendly extension similar to Brunson’s when his time comes.
Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension on Friday. Although he could have waited until next summer for a five-year, $269 million extension, his decision to take less provides the Knicks with additional cap space as they aim to build a championship-contending roster.
The Knicks made a significant move by acquiring Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this offseason. Bridges, who played alongside Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo at Villanova, joins a team that has also re-signed OG Anunoby to a max contract. This combination could form one of the best defensive wing duos in the NBA.
Bridges is eligible to sign a short-term extension with the Knicks starting October 1, or he could wait until after the 2024-25 season to sign a four-year deal.
Having reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in the past two seasons, the Knicks, who faced injury setbacks last year, are poised to make a deeper playoff run next year. Brunson’s extension and Bridges’ potential deal should help keep New York in the title hunt for years to come.