Knicks urged to make Mikal Bridges decision after playoff elimination

Following an up-and-down season for Mikal Bridges, the New York Knicks will have to make a decision regarding the forward’s long-term future with the team. 

Starting July 6, Bridges will become eligible for a contract extension worth up to $156 million over four years. The team will have until June 30, 2026, to do so before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks acquired Bridges last offseason from the Brooklyn Nets, sending a hefty haul including five first-round picks, and an additional pick swap in the process. 

Bridges averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game last season, shooting 50% from the field and 35% from three, his lowest mark since his rookie season in 2018-2019. 

With his defense impressing for parts of the year, David Vertsberger of SNY believes the Knicks' decision is an easy one.

"This should give the Knicks enough confidence to bring him back for 2025-26 and potentially extend him after seeing how he looks. It would be malpractice to not hear our out trade offers on any player, but the options with Bridges are limited. For one, consider what theoretical shooting guard the Knicks would want next to Brunson. They’d need size, the ability to shoot, defend, and be a secondary creator when called upon.

"This describes Bridges to the tee when he’s at his best, which we saw plenty of," he wrote.

The former Villanova standout was instrumental in the Knicks' upset series victory over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

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Bridges made game-winning defensive plays in both Game 1 and Game 2 to give the Knicks a commanding 2-0 series lead. New York would go on to win the series in six games to reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.

The Knicks have already begun making changes early in the offseason. Most notably, the team relieved former head coach Tom Thibodeau of his duties, showing a clear urgency to maximize any championship window that the Knicks may have. A decision on Bridges could be the next major domino to fall.