As the 2024 NBA offseason begins, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets find themselves at the center of numerous rumors. Following their second-round playoff exit, the Knicks are seeking an upgrade to solidify their status as contenders.
Conversely, the Brooklyn Nets are in a rebuilding phase. They finished last season in 11th place, missing the NBA Play-In Tournament by four games.
Given their differing trajectories, could the two teams collaborate on a blockbuster trade this offseason? Scott Davis of The Sporting News thinks so, proposing a trade between the rivals.
In Davis’s proposed deal, Mikal Bridges would join the New York Knicks. In return, the Brooklyn Nets would receive Miles McBride, Bojan Bogdanovic, and six first-round picks. The Knicks would give up their 2024, 2026, and 2028 picks, while the Mavericks, Bucks, and Wizards would contribute picks in 2024 and 2025, with the Wizards’ pick being top-10 protected.
This trade would mark a significant move for both teams. For the Nets, it would signal a comprehensive reset. They lack future first-round picks due to the James Harden trade and are currently stuck in limbo. While they gained assets by trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, they need a clear direction. General manager Sean Marks must decide whether to use their assets to strengthen the roster and compete or to sell and accumulate more assets. Davis’s scenario suggests the latter.
For the Knicks, this trade would involve trading a significant portion of their accumulated draft capital to acquire another Villanova product. With Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo already on the team, Bridges would be a natural fit.
The Knicks would bolster their wing position, assuming they re-sign OG Anunoby, adding two elite 3-and-D players to their lineup. DiVincenzo would likely move to the bench, creating one of the strongest starting lineups in the NBA: Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Julius Randle, and either Isaiah Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson at center. DiVincenzo and Hart would then lead a strong bench, supported by veteran free-agent signings aiming for a championship.
