Houston offered "several" Nets picks to Brooklyn for Mikal Bridges

The points here would be….
1. 2 years of Bridges, a significant improvement over Brooks in 90% of the game. Brooks guards bigs better IMO.
2. Bridges can be extended in Oct for 35 million, reasonable considering where cap is going.
3. If they trade Bridges for picks, they are committing to a re-build w/ the picks acquired for Bridges and the Phx picks. They are inclination to try to surround bridges with enough talent to sneak into the playoffs will be extinguished.
4. Hence, we lock in 25 and 26 as great picks.

#3, Brooks, 2027 swap has serious merit.

 

Honestly, I'm not sure what to think of possible trades for Bridges. He's a good player, definitely better than Brooks, can be a third wheel on a contender. If Amen can play PG full time, then we don't have to worry about him eating up Amen's minutes. If Amen can't play PG (meaning, he can't shoot and/or can't handle the ball at a PG level), I think Amen's value might also just be a third wheel kind of guy. I would want to have Sheppard as the insurance combo guard in case at least one of Jalen and Amen doesn't pan out.

 

Bridges has zero percent chance of extending for $35M. He’ll be going to unrestricted free agency.

OG Anunoby is about to get significantly more than that this summer. And the cap is going waaay up. Mikal’s max as a UFA will be >$52M/yr.

So if the Rockets traded for and kept Mikal, they could realistically only keep 2 of their core 6 on major second contracts. I’d rather keep my young homegrown talent than build around 31yo Mikal Bridges on $40-50M/yr, thanks.

 

I would imagine BK would still aggressively go after Mitchell using the assets from the Bridges trade and Durant trade. They still have no incentive to tank, but to rebuild or retool.

 

Stone!!!

 

I feel like "Stone!!!!" will eventually be on par with the "KAHN!!!" version

 

When I unpack it, I think….

1. Bridges better at offense, Anuoby equal shooter and better at defense. The only thing either does elite is OG as a defender.
2. Bridges played at a “max level” for a very short time. I don’t think he’ll be in line for that sort of contract two years from now. Maybe he gets 40 milllion though.
3. Bridges is 13 months older. I think Anouby is in a more advantageous position signing now. I see where that could sound strange.
4. Even if we dont re-up Bridges, I believe there is a lot of added value both in we have a better shot and a higher performance level in the playoffs over the next two years. As well as (the biggest thing to me) A trade built like that between the two parties is pretty much Brooklyn conceding that they are going to optimize those pics for the Rockets the next two years.

The biggest loss or win in the balance, here is where those draft picks end up being. Im not trading 2025 or 2026 for Bridges (or mostly anyone). But getting Bridges and locking them in can be very valuable.

 

Because this is probably the worst draft of all time. Our options are an undersized shooting guard or a tall white stiff... we getting a role player at best. Hope I'm wrong.

 

LOL, of course it is.....just like every other draft.

How terrible thinking that the team might draft the best 3 point shooting prospect since Curry....and if you haven't noticed, some of the best players in the NBA were once described as "tall white stiffs".....so maybe it's not the draft that is so bad, it's the prospect analysis that is bad.

 

I wouldn't call him a stiff if he had scoring ability and play making like Jokic or Doncic. Problem is he can't create a shot at all. I don't need a Rudy Gobert. Mikal bridges will be better than either of those guys when their careers are over.

 

I'm not even sure which prospect you are trying to talk about honestly.

It seems like it might be referencing Clingan, maybe, but that's probably the only guy that definition would fit.... and I don't consider him a legitimate candidate for #3

 

yeah everyone seems to want clingan or Shepard. If forced to pick I'd take Reed this team badly needs shooting. I just worry he maybe too small to get his shot off consistently in nba and who knows what his defense will be like. But at least Sengun will get more assists lol.

 

He's literally a quarter of an inch shorter than Steph Curry and significantly more athletic. He's taller than CP3 and current Rockets PG FVV... so why would he struggle to get his shot off?

Also, defense is a strength of his... so doubting his defense is just a weird criticism.

 

The odds on Sheppard living up to anything close to Curry are long indeed...and, to take that gamble at #3 is....illogical & reckless.

Besides the height and reach, there is the question of lateral agility, and ball handling...Reed didn't see doubles, played in space, and had really good teammates that made the game easier for him. I question his shot creation, and being able to get it off in the Association.

Too many built in question marks for a guy going that high IMO.

 

He doesn't have to be Curry to be the right pick though....

Reed won't see doubles because if one was to even start to come he'd have the ball out of his hands before they got there, one criticism of his game is that he's overly conservative. Also, he made the game easier for his teammates, not the other way around. Sheppard's gravity ensured his teammates would have extra space to operate and would likely never be doubled due to the fear of leaving him open.

Sheppard was exceptionally good passing in transition where he'd create shots for his teammates, he was exceptionally good at 3 point shooting of all kinds, he was exceptionally good on defense creating steals....not from dangerous gambles, but from using his BBIQ and quick, strong hands plus he was one of the best shot blocking PG's in college due to his ridiculous vertical leaping ability and timing.

Questioning getting his shot off is pretty absurd given that he's a quarter of an inch shorter than Steph Curry and significantly more athletic....does Steph struggle to get his shot off? Does CP3? Does FVV?

A lot of these "question marks" seem to be somewhat baseless.

If Sheppard hits 70% of his potential, he's a key piece of a championship team.

 

Steph has one of the quickest releases in nba history. That's what makes him special.

 

No, it's that he has a quick release AND makes those shots at a ridiculous rate.

That said, how is that supposed to be different from Sheppard? He needs very little space to get his shot off and his 3's at video game rates even as a freshman in college.

 

#3 + Brooks isn't happening. I'd (much) rather have Brooks and Reed Sheppard.

 

The few videos I watched of him it looks like he's shooting jump shots with a much slower release which gives nba defenders enough time to recover.

 

Probably not. I mean, give them the 2027 swap as well, and if they felt there was some value in Landale or Tate they could certainly have those pieces.

Let them burn, I don’t care. Think they are going to be that great with bridges being their lead player anyway and I expect those pics to be pretty valuable regardless over the next few years.

Im fine w/ drafting Sarr, Shepp, Castle and then just addressing something with the MLE.

We are dealing from a position of strength. Let them trade Bridges to the Knicks.