Mikal Bridges Early Extension Indications

Mikal Bridges joining the New York Knicks is quite the headline but there is still some business that needs to be addressed. He was traded from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this month and reunited with his Villanova teammates. However, Bridges is eligible for a contract extension, with just one more year after this upcoming season left on his current deal. After seeing how Knicks star Jalen Brunson handled his recent negotiations, there are some early indications that he will follow in the same steps. 

Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension just a few days ago. While it's still good money, this is not the max or nearly what he's worth given everything he's done since arriving in New York a couple years ago. Had he waited until next summer, he could have signed a five-year, $269.1 million deal. However, Brunson put team success over himself, and by taking a $113 million pay cut, the Knicks are below the second apron and maintain flexibility to continue to seek improvements without any restrictions or penalties. 

It was reported by NBA correspondent Marc Stein that Bridges is also expected to take a pay cut to stay with his new team. He'll be eligible for a "shorter and less attractive deal as soon as Oct. 1." Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, the other fellow Villanova alumni, are still under contract for a couple more seasons so no worries about their negotiations just yet. You don't often see a star-caliber player like Brunson take those significant financial actions to help the franchise but if everybody continues to follow then the Knicks have a great chance to continue competing for a championship in the long run.