<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-extension-walks-line-trade-bait-contending');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks’ Mikal Bridges extension walks line of trade bait while contending');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Knicks-forward-Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks’ Mikal Bridges extension walks line of trade bait while contending</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-06T11:09:04-07:00">August 6th, 11:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-06T11:09:04-07:00">August 6th, 11:09am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In today’s NBA, a team-friendly deal, such as the New York <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-4-word-mic-drop-150-million-contract-extension">Knicks’ Mikal Bridges’ four-year, $150 million extension</a>, can always be used as trade bait down the line. That’s not to say the Knicks, who locked in Bridges alongside All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as their core for the foreseeable future, inked their elite perimeter defender for that purpose alone. However, it is worth noting.</p><p>In the NBA’s era of second-apron penalties as part of the new CBA, the Knicks do <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0L1DR6ClME&amp;t=643s" rel="noopener">have the flexibility to trade</a> for another All-Star talent if one becomes available, which ESPN’s Brian Windhorst astutely pointed out, per The Hoop Collective.</p><p>“They like this team. They made a coaching change,” Windhorst said. “They obviously believe that moving to Mike Brown might be able to get more out of this team and that they can sort of try to find some efficiencies that they weren’t getting under Tom Thibodeau, or they can maneuver. And so, I think their moves going forward with Jalen Brunson being the key, their ability to stay under the second apron, which staying under the second apron helps you with trades, because it changes what you can do.”</p><p>Coming off their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in over 20 years, the Knicks are projected to make another deep playoff run.</p><p>“I think the Knicks want to walk that line of having a team that is competitive,” Windhorst added. “And having a team that, if a superstar becomes available, they can go get him and put him next to Brunson.”</p><p>Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, both on non-long-term deals, do come to mind when thinking about two of the NBA’s elite talent potentially leaving their respective teams. However, it’s difficult to say if either is a viable option for New York. However, as Windhorst mentioned, the Knicks would be an attractive destination in a potential deal with Knicks forward Mikal Bridges.</p><h2><b>Insider on Devin Booker prediction for Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Knicks-All-Star-Karl-Anthony-Towns.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-insider-devin-booker-prediction-possible-karl-anthony-towns-extension">Karl-Anthony Towns could reach an extension</a> with the Knicks after next season. It depends on how the 2025-26 campaign pans out, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst mentioned throughout his take on the Knicks’ prolonged success.</p><p>“The Knicks have the option of riding this core out, or their pathway forward is to make a trade. Mikal Bridges got extended this summer,” Windhorst said. “We have not heard anything about Karl-Anthony Towns getting extended. And I don’t think it has a commentary on Towns or the season he had.”</p><p>The Knicks will look to build off their Eastern Conference Finals appearance next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks’ Mikal Bridges extension walks line of trade bait while contending

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-4-word-mic-drop-150-million-contract-extension');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks wing Mikal Bridges’ 4-word mic drop on $150 million contract extension');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Knicks-Mikal-Bridges-controls-the-ball.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks wing Mikal Bridges’ 4-word mic drop on $150 million contract extension</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-04T08:37:15-07:00">August 4th, 8:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-04T08:37:42-07:00">August 4th, 8:37am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks invested a huge haul of draft picks in Mikal Bridges, essentially labeling him as an X-factor who could help the franchise win their first championship since 1973. Although he struggled to find a consistent form in his first season with the team, the two-way wing was instrumental in the Knickerbockers’ Eastern Conference Semifinals victory over the then-reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics. The organization remains confident that he can do his part to secure a parade for the city.</p><p>Bridges signed a four-year, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-how-150-million-mikal-bridges-extension-ensures-title-window-remains-open">$150 million contract extension</a> last week, solidifying himself as a key part of New York’s future. The 28-year-old <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DM50xgyuwuN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=aa470ae3-753c-4176-9904-42098b5b8974&amp;img_index=3" rel="noopener">shared a simple message</a> a few days after the huge news broke. “I love it here,” he posted on Instagram.</p><p>Bridges has accomplished plenty in the Northeast during his young life. The Pennsylvania native won two national titles with the Villanova Wildcats and gained valuable experience as a No. 1 option while playing one and a half seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, but he is determined to reach the summit of his basketball career with the Knicks.</p><p>Despite the overwhelming pressure that comes from competing in front of this intensely passionate fan base, Bridges is grateful to call Madison Square Garden his home. The fact that he gets to share the court with two of his college teammates — star point Jalen Brunson and glue-guy Josh Hart — makes this experience even sweeter. Now, the squad has to harness the feel-good vibes into a Larry O’Brien Trophy.</p><h2><b>The Knicks and their fans are counting on No. 25 to level up</b></h2><p>How Bridges performs could determine how far New York goes during the 2025-26 NBA campaign. He was efficient enough versus the Indiana Pacers the Eastern Conference Finals, but the team needed him to do a little more on both offense and defense. Fans demand more as well. Fair or not, “five first-rounders” will define his tenure in the Big Apple until he boosts the Knicks to the next level. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">This new contract</a> will only magnify the scrutiny.</p><p>Nevertheless, Bridges still enjoyed an overall productive 2024-25 season. He suited up for all 82 games, reinforcing his role as one of the league’s foremost workhorses, and averaged 17.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent shooting from 3-point land. If the 2022 All-Defensive First-Team selection can recapture the long-range potency he displayed with both the Phoenix Suns and Nets, then he should have no trouble romancing MSG in the years to come.</p><p>The Knicks will enter the next campaign as one of the two clear favorites to win the East (along with the Cleveland Cavaliers), so it is crucial that this group strengthens its on-court chemistry and bench play under <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mike-brown-hints-at-winning-formula-around-jalen-brunson">new head coach Mike Brown</a>. Ultimately, though, as is always the case, the burden falls on the men in uniform to complete the mission.</p><p>Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are the stars and OG Anunoby is the squad’s most versatile defender, but one cannot discount Mikal Bridges’ significance. This franchise is banking on him to help spark the best era of Knicks basketball in over half a century.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks wing Mikal Bridges’ 4-word mic drop on $150 million contract extension

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-how-150-million-mikal-bridges-extension-ensures-title-window-remains-open');   ga('set', 'title', 'How $150 million Mikal Bridges extension ensures Knicks’ title window remains open');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mikal-Bridges-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>How $150 million Mikal Bridges extension ensures Knicks’ title window remains open</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-01T20:13:36-07:00">August 1st, 8:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-01T20:13:36-07:00">August 1st, 8:13pm</time><address><a>Drew Maresca</a>Drew Maresca is a NY-area writer and researcher who has covered the NBA for more than 5 years. Prior to joining ClutchPoints to cover the New York Knicks, Drew wrote for Basketball News and Basketball Insiders. Drew has conducted interviews inside NBA locker rooms including Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center, and the Kia Center, and he covered the 2019 NBA Draft in-person from Brooklyn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks finally <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">reached an agreement on a contract extension with Mikal Bridges</a>. New York agreed to pay Bridges an <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/26976/mikal-bridges" rel="noopener">average of $37.5 million per year</a> for four years in a deal that features a player option in the final year. The Knicks team is now mostly set for the foreseeable future—and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/why-mikal-bridges-extension-for-more-than-150-million-would-benefit-knicks">it is well prepared to compete for a championship for years to come</a>.</p><p>New York was always going to prioritize a Bridges deal. Why? Because they sent out <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-nets-mikal-bridges-expaned-unqiue-sign-and-trade">virtually all of their first-round picks to add him last summer</a>. Allowing Bridges to possibly walk for nothing would be a major loss, considering the Knicks would be unable to use the money they spent on Bridges elsewhere, thanks to complications within the collective bargaining agreement. But how does re-signing Bridges and returning the core of a team that was just eliminated in the NBA Playoffs by the Indiana Pacers for the second consecutive year help the Knicks secure a title? Well, it’s simpler than it seems.</p><h2><b>After Year 1, the Knicks are set up to compete with their core </b></h2><p>The 2024-25 season was the first for this Knicks team. Bridges was new to New York, and Karl-Anthony Towns was added just prior to last training camp. So, both players had to find their place with the team. And neither was likely perfectly comfortable with their teammates.</p><p>Next year will be different simply due to repetition. The Knicks now have a (successful) season under their belt. They won 51 games and eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round. Sure, the Pacers sent them home again, but Indiana was obviously no slouch. They were a bad matchup for the Knicks, especially given former coach Tom Thibodeau’s unwillingness to tinker with lineups and his aversion to playing his bench.</p><p>Well, Thibodeau is gone. And coach Mike Brown brings with him a reputation for using more intricate offensive sets and relying more heavily on his bench. Or at least that was the case in his most recent stop with the Sacramento Kings.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mikal-Bridges-Jaylen-Brown.jpg"><figcaption>David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Mikal Bridges can tap into his upside</b></h2><p>While the entire team will benefit from familiarity, Bridges stands to benefit even more. The seven-year veteran stepped into a very unique role. He was the first option on the Brooklyn Nets two seasons ago. But he became the Knicks’ fourth option behind Brunson, Towns, and OG Anunoby.</p><p>Granted, he will probably remain the fourth option. But his versatility can be utilized in better ways.</p><p>Bridges showed his unique skill set in Jalen Brunson’s absence last season. In 12 games late in the year, Bridges averaged 22.2 points and 5.3 assists while achieving a 55-37-92 shooting split. And his ability to create for his teammates was on full display. As were his defensive abilities.</p><p>Coach Brown can unlock a different gear with Bridges, using him as a backup point guard alongside Miles McBride, as well as the starting shooting guard. He can also be the team’s small forward in a shooting-heavy lineup alongside Brunson, Anunoby, Towns, and another point guard. And Brown can run sets for Bridges—something Thibodeau rarely did.</p><p>The timing of the deal is also noteworthy. Why? Because players can’t be traded for six months after signing an extension. However, with Bridges signing on July 31, he will be trade-eligible <i>just</i> before the trade deadline. So, in a worst-case scenario, the Knicks could trade the former lottery pick if they need to shake things up. Or if a certain someone requests a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks.</p><p>But ultimately, the Bridges deal wasn’t about a trade. It was about winning the team’s first championship in more than 50 years. And considering the Knicks roster, as well as what’s wrong with the other top contenders in the Eastern Conference, the 2025-26 season (and beyond) is their best chance to win in a long, long time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How $150 million Mikal Bridges extension ensures Knicks’ title window remains open

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-teammate-jokes-6-million-sacrifice-150-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mikal Bridges’ teammate jokes about $6 million ‘sacrifice’ on $150 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_25655829.jpg"><figcaption>Mar 12, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; New York Knicks small forward Mikal Bridges (25) celebrates with point guard Miles McBride (2) after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mikal Bridges’ teammate jokes about $6 million ‘sacrifice’ on $150 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-01T07:56:59-07:00">August 1st, 7:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-01T08:01:19-07:00">August 1st, 8:01am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>New York Knicks forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">Mikal Bridges made headlines on Thursday</a>, agreeing to a four-year, $150 million contract extension. Shortly after news of the deal broke, several reporters pointed out that Bridges took a slight discount from his max extension number ($156 million) to help New York maintain flexibility and continue building its roster.</p><p>One of Bridges’ teammates, Miles “Deuce” McBride, <a href="https://twitter.com/deucemcb11/status/1951054742471225711" rel="noopener">thanked him</a> for his sacrifice.</p><p>“Manns really a team first guy, appreciate it Kal!” McBride, who will make $4.3 million next season, wrote on X with a laughing emoji.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Manns really a team first guy, appreciate it Kal! 😆 <a href="https://t.co/L6L3gSs2cn">https://t.co/L6L3gSs2cn</a></p><p>— M11es McBride (@deucemcb11) <a href="https://twitter.com/deucemcb11/status/1951054742471225711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>While Bridges’ “sacrifice” will be the source of jokes, it continues a trend of the Knicks’ top players leaving money on the table. Following two breakout seasons, Jalen Brunson agreed to a team-friendly deal last summer that came in well below his market value.</p><h2>Mikal Bridges sacrifices $6 million in four-year contract extension with Knicks</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_26162199.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Bridges’ sacrifice pales in comparison to Brunson’s. New York’s top player signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract that will begin this season. Had he finished the final year of his deal and then become a free agent this summer, he would have been eligible for a five-year, $269 million contract.</p><p>However, Brunson was prioritizing allowing the Knicks to add to a championship core around him. Bridges is one of the top pieces that his former Villanova teammate hopes will propel New York to a championship. Yet, his first season with the Knicks was a disappointment.</p><p>Bridges averaged 17.6 points per game while shooting 35.4 percent from three, the lowest mark since his rookie season. The 28-year-old’s defense also continued to regress. Opponents scored 1.4 more points per 100 possessions during his minutes, placing him in the 36th percentile among wings, per CleaningTheGlass.</p><p>While his playoff run featured some bright moments, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-mikal-bridges-blasted-fourth-quarter-struggles-game-2-loss-pistons">Bridges struggled for the most part</a>. The offseason trade acquisition averaged 15.6 points while shooting 33.3 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game. He was noticeably hesitant to attack the basket, attempting 16 free throws over 18 appearances.</p><p>Following their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau and replaced him with Mike Brown. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-tom-thibodeau-shoots-down-mikal-bridges-minutes-report">Bridges made headlines midway through the season</a> for criticizing his heavy minutes load under Thibodeau.</p><p>The Knicks hope that their coaching change and bench additions of Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson will help them take the next step this season. However, if New York hopes to do so, Bridges will have to live up to the hefty trade and financial commitment the team has made to him.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mikal Bridges’ teammate jokes about $6 million ‘sacrifice’ on $150 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-rumors-mikal-bridges-in-position-land-bonkers-contract-before-extension');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks rumors: Mikal Bridges in position to land bonkers contract before NY extension');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Knicks rumors: Mikal Bridges in position to land bonkers contract before NY extension</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-31T20:33:48-07:00">July 31st, 8:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-31T20:33:48-07:00">July 31st, 8:33pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Mikal Bridges decided to secure a crucial <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mikal-bridges-150-million-contract-extension">contract extension with the New York Knicks</a> this offseason. However, he could’ve held out on an expiring contract and obtain a bigger deal in the process.</p><p>Bridges agreed to a four-year extension with the Knicks on Thursday, earning $150 million in that span. It will start when the 2026-27 campaign starts, as he assists New York in boosting the roster with future key additions.</p><p>However, <a href="https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/rumors/2025/07/31/some-executives-thought-mikal-bridges-would-get-close-to-200-million-in-open-market/85468316007/" rel="noopener">$200 million could’ve been on the table</a>, according to The Athletic’s Fred Katz. League executives thought that the Knicks wing would’ve been more patient on the extension, waiting so he can land a bigger contract.</p><p>“Prior to this agreement, some league executives who spoke to The Athletic thought Bridges, given his history of never missing games, might play next season on an expiring contract and attempt to get closer to $200 million on the open market next summer,” Katz said.</p><h2><b>What’s next for Mikal Bridges, Knicks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/New-York-Knicks-forward-Mikal-Bridges.jpg"><figcaption>David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If that seems to be the case, Mikal Bridges decided to pass on an extra $50 million for his contract to help the Knicks in the long term.</p><p>Bridges has been quite the healthy player throughout his NBA career, rarely missing games. He played every game for the Knicks last season, averaging 17.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. He shot 50% from the field, including 35.4% from beyond the arc, and 81.4% from the free-throw line.</p><p>Bridges played a huge role in New York securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record. He had huge moments throughout playoffs, helping the Knicks reach the East Finals for the first time since 2000.</p><p>Despite losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games, the Knicks proved that they have the talent to make a Finals run. That is why they made upgrades to the bench, signing spark plug Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele.</p><p>The East will be up for grabs after Boston and Indiana suffered severe injuries with Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton down for the count. However, New York should not take this opportunity for granted as they will have a lot of expectations next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks rumors: Mikal Bridges in position to land bonkers contract before NY extension

Andre Roberson

Jerami Grant

Justin Holiday

Elfrid Payton

Mikal Bridges

Frank Kaminsky

Quinn Cook

Kyle Anderson

Justin Jackson

Darius Miller

2021-22 All-Defensive

Phoenix Suns

Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks

Career

1 season

2 seasons

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1646247941131186177/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1644579048591376389/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1635378518178816005/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1635068845995229187/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634760237352730624/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634747043519365124/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634419986050568193/

https://twitter.com/mikal_bridges/status/1634061160113750017/

And jhart doing everything out there to win

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
17.6	3.2	3.7	0.5	0.9

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
17.6	3.2	3.7	0.5	0.9

Mikal
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Knicks rumors: Mikal Bridges in position to land bonkers contract before NY extension

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