While Mikal Bridges becomes eligible to sign a two-year, $72.5 million extension with the New York Knicks on October 1st, and there was initially some expectation that he would sign it, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reports that the current intel points in a different direction.
‘The indication I’ve gotten just from talking to people is that there is not going to be an extension,’ said Marks on the Hoop Collective Podcast. ‘That he will wait until next year to look at what the extension… because he’s limited as far as the six-month rule as far as what he can extend for. Next year, he can extend for four years. It just gives him more flexibility. That could certainly change by October 21st. Maybe this trade does change that thinking. This was talking to people before this [Karl-Anthony Towns] trade happened.’
The situation is complicated by the fact that Bridges’ four-year, $90.9 million extension, which he signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, contains no player or team options. As a result, his extension with the Knicks cannot begin until the 2026-27 season. Bridges is represented by agents Jordan Gertler and Sam Goldfeder, and after the Knicks acquired him from the Brooklyn Nets in June, there was some speculation about his future with the team.
However, by waiting until next year, Bridges would have the opportunity to sign a more lucrative four-year deal, giving him additional flexibility. With the Karl-Anthony Towns trade potentially impacting the team’s roster strategy, Bridges’ contract decisions could shift, but as of now, no extension is expected in the immediate future.
Mikal Bridges Unlikely To Sign Two-Year Extension With Knicks With Preference For Longer Deal In 2025 https://t.co/i49K054NOL
— RealGM (@RealGM) September 29, 2024
