Mikal Bridges is in the final season of his current deal with the New York Knicks. With him being such a key piece on the Knicks, why is an extension not done yet? One writer believed this was due to who New York has been connected to in the rumor mill. Bridges could be trying to secure his future with his current team.
Mikal Bridges Staying Patient With Knicks Extension — And There Could Be A Big Reason Why originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Mikal Bridges is in the final season of his current deal with the New York Knicks. The two-way wing is set to earn $24.9 million in 2025-26 before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. With him being such a key piece on the Knicks, why is an extension not done yet?
One writer believed this was due to who New York has been connected to in the rumor mill. Bridges could be trying to secure his future with his current team.
Dan Favale suggested on Daily Knicks that Giannis Antetokounmpo could be a big reason as to why there has been no announcement of an extension for Bridges. The writer pointed out that the Knicks wing has been eligible for a new deal since the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Favale wrote, "It could just be Bridges ensuring he won’t be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in the middle of the season. Yes, this is all about Giannis Antetokounmpo. ... The Knicks are reportedly still hoping to win the Giannis trade sweepstakes, if and when they begin."
Favale added, "The date Knicks fans and Bridges should have circled is August 6. The NBA trade deadline almost always falls on the first Thursday in February. If it follows that trend this coming season, it will land on February 5."
So why does that make signing an extension after August 6 a secure option for Bridges? Well, because it would guarantee his ineligibility to be moved when the NBA trade deadline is expected to come.
"If he puts pen to paper soon, that [six-month] restriction will lift before the February 2026 trade deadline, meaning he could still be dealt next season," Favale wrote. "Bridges can guarantee that he’ll remain in New York through all of next season if he accepts the extension on August 6 or anytime thereafter."
There is no guarantee that is exactly the play here for the Knicks star. However, if this were to be the case, Bridges certainly cannot be blamed for giving himself that type of security after being included in a deal for a megastar previously in his career.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
