The New York Knicks are positioning themselves to challenge the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference and beyond next season with their latest acquisition, which has profoundly impacted their betting odds in the 2024-25 NBA championship race.
The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly sending Mikal Bridges to New York in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round draft picks, a protected first-round pick courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks, an unprotected first-round swap, and a second-round pick, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Brooklyn also reportedly has a side deal in place to get back their own 2026 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets for a 2027 Phoenix Suns first-round pick, as well. Houston also relinquishes the right to swap a Rockets/Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick for the Nets' 2025 first-round pick, meaning Brooklyn now has full control over their own pick in next year's loaded draft.
Full breakdown of the Mikal Bridges trade ⬇️
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) June 26, 2024
Who won this one? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Hts4sAf2Bs
In one fell swoop, and with more moves certainly to come, the Knicks have soared from 16-to-1 odds for the Larry O'Brien trophy next season to now 10-to-1, tying them with the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks for the fifth-best odds overall.
Updated 2024-25 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | Odds Prior To Trade | Odds After Trade |
|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | +1600 | +1000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +100000 | +100000 |
(Related Link) NBA Championship Odds 2025: Boston Celtics Favored To Repeat
Wojnarowski adds that re-signing free agent O.G. Anunoby remains a top priority for the Knicks franchise even after acquiring Bridges, although their ability to also keep Isaiah Hartenstein is far more limited now as a result.
In Bridges, New York receives a player who has never missed a game in his career and averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and a steal while shooting just over 37 percent from behind the arc in 2023-24. He now reunites with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo with whom he played 44 games alongside at a collegiate level, going 39-5 during that span.
The Knicks go deeper into the Villanova national championship roster — bringing Mikal Bridges to join his old teammates and close friends Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVencenzo. pic.twitter.com/G544CT02zI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024
Who Won The Trade? New York Knicks Or Brooklyn Nets?
In the world of picking winners and losers, going with a push almost reeks of cowardice, yet in the case of this blockbuster deal, both the Knicks and Nets have a lot to be happy about.
The Celtics just ran through the East on the back of a loaded starting lineup with a superstar wing tandem of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, so bringing aboard Bridges provides New York another elite defender who can pair off with either of those forwards in a potential seven-game series. If the Knicks can somehow keep Anunoby, as well, then they'll possess one of the most imposing defensive lineups we've seen in quite some time.
Bridges isn't afraid to play heavy minutes either, which is a staple of Tom Thibodeau's rotations. He obviously already has an instant rapport and bond with his former college teammates, and at just 27 years of age, fits the Knicks' timeline of working alongside that aforementioned core to hopefully end the team's title drought.
Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Mikal Bridges hopped on FaceTime real quick 😂🔥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 26, 2024
(via @joshhart) pic.twitter.com/FmmWESkEiZ
It's a steep price for someone who has yet to make an All-Star Game, mind you, but when you're in a big market like New York with a competitive squad, picks lose their luster because they're never projected to be very high, and you can always replenish the depth chart in free agency or via trades.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, is entering a full-blown rebuild, made all the more easier by restocking its draft capital that was sent away in moves to land Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.
The Brooklyn Nets have *13* first round picks between 2025 & 2029.
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) June 26, 2024
16 between '25 & '31. pic.twitter.com/ws7QXdnl7n
They didn't end up with a cornerstone, franchise-building talent to replace Bridges, although he was certainly miscast in that position with the Nets, but ending up with a treasure trove of picks and an expiring contract in Bogdanovic for someone who shouldn't have been a No. 1 option in the first place is excellent asset management by Sean Marks.
