The Knicks’ slow start has already pushed one name to the center of the conversation: Mikal Bridges.
After a 2026 championship run that raised expectations in New York, the Knicks have stumbled out of the gate, losing four of their first seven games. That has opened the door for outside voices to start pressing the front office on what comes next, especially with the team trying to stay clear of the second apron.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Post went straight at the issue, arguing that Bridges is the most obvious trade piece if the Knicks want to address their cap situation.
“ As the Knicks grapple with their second-apron mandate and extension eligibilities, the proposed solutions seem to be skipping over the obvious: Trade Mikal Bridges,” wrote Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “If we’re trying to make dollars and sense out of the conundrum, Bridges is the most expendable.”
Bondy pointed to the way the Knicks have been using Bridges this season, noting that he has essentially been sharing the position with Landry Shamet, Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson. He also highlighted how the combined cap hits of McBride, Shamet and Clarkson come out to about a third of Bridges’ salary. Through Monday, Bondy noted, Bridges had scored fewer points than Shamet or McBride, while shooting worse and not attempting a single free throw.
That financial pressure has been part of the Knicks’ thinking for a while. Even after the championship celebration, owner James Dolan made it clear the team would not go over the second apron. That stance helped lead to Mitchell Robinson being let go this summer, and it has also left extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns on hold.
Bridges, meanwhile, is attached to a contract that will pay him roughly $35 million per year over the next four years. That makes him one of the more obvious levers the Knicks could pull if they decide they need to change course without putting Towns at risk.
The problem is that Bridges has not looked like the player who helped drive the title run. He is averaging 6.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 30.8% from the field. Whether that is just a slump or something deeper is still unclear, but the patience around him may not hold forever if the numbers stay this way.
For now, the trade chatter is only growing louder. The Miami Heat have been mentioned as a possible fit for a perimeter scorer like Bridges, though it is unclear whether they have the assets to make a deal happen. A reunion with the Phoenix Suns could also make sense, but that would likely require Phoenix to part with pieces such as Dillon Brooks or Jalen Green to get negotiations started.
There would be interest if the Knicks decided to explore the market. The question is how long they can wait before the pressure turns into action.
In Other News...
Knicks May Need An Unusual Andre Drummond Fix Longer Than Expected
Andre Drummonds fit with the Knicks has taken on a strangely modern look, with the big man being asked to spend time in the corner and fire away from deep in a role he also handled with the 76ers. It is not the kind of usage most people associate with a center, but the idea is straightforward: if Drummond is willing to stand there and take those shots, the floor opens up for everyone else.
Last season, Drummond put up a career-high number of corner threes and finished at a clip that was close to the league average, which gives New York some reason to keep leaning into the experiment. The trade-off is obvious, since he still struggles to finish at the rim, but the Knicks appear willing to live with that if the spacing helps the offense find cleaner looks for the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Former Knicks Guard Just Landed In An Uncomfortable Spot For New York
Kevin McCullar Jr. has quickly found a new landing spot after his brief run with the Knicks, signing a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors. For New York, it is another reminder of how fluid the back end of the roster can be, especially with players on two-way deals who can move on without much ceremony once a team decides to go in a different direction.
McCullar had been with the Knicks on two-way contracts before being waived earlier this season, and Toronto was able to add him without making a corresponding roster move. He can suit up in up to 45 regular-season games for the Raptors, though his path to the postseason still depends on getting elevated to the standard roster, leaving his next step in Toronto worth watching from a Knicks perspective. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Are Sending Mikal Bridges A Clear Early-Season Message
Mike Brown has wasted little time sending Mikal Bridges a message this season. The Knicks coach has been pulling the starting wing earlier in games than he did a year ago, a notable shift for a player who signed a four-year contract extension and was expected to remain a central part of New Yorks rotation.
Bridges defense was a major factor in the Knicks playoff run last spring, but Brown has made it clear the bar stays high even for established pieces. With New York trying to defend its NBA title, Bridges will need to shake off his early shooting issues and earn back the kind of closing minutes that usually come with his role. [Read more 🡒]