How Mikal Bridges trade impacts fantasy value and NBA betting - ESPN

The New York Knicks shook up the NBA on the eve of the 2024 draft, trading for Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges on Tuesday night.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Brooklyn will receive multiple unprotected first-round draft picks and forward Bojan Bogdanovic in the trade, which carries significant fantasy basketball and betting implications.

Bridges will reunite with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo in New York, but how will it shake out? Let's take a look.

From a fantasy perspective, Bridges took a step back last season with the Nets. He averaged 19.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.6 APG and 1.0 SPG over 82 games — down from his impressive stretch of 26.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.0 SPG in 27 games with Brooklyn during the 2022-23 season.

What caused this decline?

Bridges struggled as the primary creator for the Nets. However, he remains one of just four players to record 1,500 points, 150 3-pointers and 75 steals in each of the past two seasons, joining the elite company of Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum.

Despite the scoring dip, Bridges will stay fantasy relevant on the Knicks because of his ability to stockpile stats in multiple categories. Bridges is set to benefit from having more talent around him, including Brunson and Julius Randle. Having additional scorers on the court means defenses can't focus solely on Bridges as a No. 2 or No. 3 option for the Knicks, and his scoring should take pressure off Brunson.

Bridges has also played 474 consecutive games. He is set to start at one of the forward spots and has a lot to offer fantasy managers this season on a stacked Knicks roster. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for giving his key players heavy minutes and