The New York Knicks are keeping their core together.
Despite moving on from head coach Tom Thibodeau shortly after the season, the Knicks’ front office is happy with the roster. New York will have the same starting five next season, and possibly for multiple seasons to come.
With news surfacing on Thursday that the Knicks finalized an extension with Mikal Bridges, all of New York’s starting lineup is now under contract for multiple years. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news about Bridges.
“New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges has agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract extension with the franchise, agents Sam Goldfeder and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports Management tell ESPN,” Charania posted. “The new deal includes a player option for 2029-30 and a trade kicker.”
Interestingly, Bridges took a slight pay cut, a development covered by SNY’s Ian Begley:
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“Knicks and Mikal Bridges have agreed to an extension at less than max, which gives the Knicks more financial flexibility due to second apron. “He wants to be here and wants to win here,” league source told SNY. Bridges could have signed 4 year, $156M max but agreed to 4 years for $150M, league source confirmed. First reported by ESPN.
“If he’d waited until free agency, Bridges could have signed a deal for as long as five years and significantly more money,” Begley continued. “Giving Knicks added financial flexibility, starting with summer when Bridges’ extension kicked in, was important part of the deal for both sides, league sources say. Jalen Brunson also agreed to an extension a year before he was eligible for a mammoth contract in free agency. That added financial flexibility – and the flexibility from the Bridges deal – will help Knicks in this second apron era of team building.”
Bridges averaged 17.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 82 games for the Knicks last season on 50 percent shooting. The iron man has still never missed an NBA game in his career.
