The New York Knicks have checked a few boxes already early in the offseason. They’ve hired a new coach (Mike Brown), and signed key depth additions (Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele). Next up could be a decision on one of the team’s marquee acquisitions from last offseason.
Mikal Bridges is eligible for an extension this offseason worth up to four-year, $156 million. However, should he wait until 2026, Bridges could sign a deal worth up to $296 million.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes predicts that Bridges will not sign an extension early, and could potentially drag it out to next year in order to cash in.
“The counter here is that Jalen Brunson took less than the max on his last extension, and that all Knicks, especially the Villanova ones, will follow suit,” Hughes wrote. “Loyalty and sacrifice are great, but the NBA is still a business—even if you’ve got Wildcat ties. Bridges is going to treat it like one.”
Bridges was dealt to the Knicks from the Brooklyn Nets before last season. He was sent for an astounding five first-round picks, a price that some have considered an overpay for a player of Bridges’ stature.
Last season, Bridges averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and appeared in all 82 games for the Knicks. He was instrumental in the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, most notably in the semifinals against the Celtics, when he made game-saving defensive plays in games 1 and 2 to give the Knicks a commanding 2-0 series lead.