Mikal Bridges will be the second New York Knicks star who will do the team a huge solid if recent reports are to be believed. According to renowned NBA insider Marc Stein, the 27-year-old swingman will likely sign a “team-friendly” extension when he becomes eligible to get it.
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“League sources say the expectation now is Mikal Bridges is likely to follow Jalen Brunson’s lead & sign a team-friendly deal of his own (…he’s eligible for a shorter & less attractive deal as soon as Oct. 1 or a 4-year extension if he waits until after the season),” Stein wrote in his latest column.
Jalen Brunson agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension on Friday, which is considered a discount since he would’ve had the chance to sign a five-year, $269.1 million extension if he waited until next summer.
By taking less money, Brunson has given New York more cap space to work with to continue building their roster to compete in the Eastern Conference.
Mikal Bridges is qualified to sign a short-term extension worth up to $72.5 million with the New York Knicks as soon as October 1. However, he can sign a four-year deal after the 2024-25 campaign for as much as $156 million.
Mikal Bridges was recently acquired by the New York Knicks in a blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets for a handful of draft picks and veterans to join his former Villanova teammates, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo.
New York Knicks shore up their backcourt depth
After adding Mikal Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop to their roster and re-signing OG Anunoby to a lucrative extension, the New York Knicks seems far from done, as they’ve signed Cameron Payne to a one-year deal.
Cameron Payne played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 7.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 78 regular season games.
The nine-year veteran is expected to play behind Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride.
