Mikal Bridges likely hasn't signed his Knicks extension yet to preserve midseason trade flexibility, especially if New York makes a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Mikal Bridges has been eligible to sign a four-year, $156.2 million extension with the New York Knicks since the 2025 NBA Finals ended.
Points this season
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But a month has passed with no deal, raising questions — not necessarily about his future in New York, but about Giannis Antetokounmpo.
According to Daily Knicks' Dan Favale, the Knicks are still hoping to make a play for Giannis if the Bucks ever decide to move him. In that scenario, Bridges could be a key piece in trade talks.
Here's where it gets strategic: if Bridges signs his extension now, he can't be traded for six months.
That would temporarily take him off the table in a Giannis deal. But if he signs before August 6, that six-month restriction would lift before the February 2026 trade deadline — meaning he could still be moved midseason.
So why wait? If Bridges wants to guarantee he stays in New York all season, he can sign the extension on August 6 or later. Do it earlier, and he becomes tradable before the deadline.
It's a quiet standoff — both sides are likely on the same page. The Knicks are giving Bridges the freedom to choose his timing, and Bridges is keeping his options open.
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