Kofi Inkoom
The Indiana Pacers, fresh off their appearance in the ECF, find themselves in an enviable position. This youthful team has progressed more rapidly than expected in their rebuilding process.
Additionally, they possess valuable assets that could be leveraged to bolster their roster immediately. In light of this, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale has proposed a trade that would bring Mikal Bridges to Indiana.
Indiana Pacers Receive: Mikal Bridges
Brooklyn Nets Receive: T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, Utah’s 2027 second-round pick, 2028 first-round pick (top-seven protection; turns into 2028 second-rounder if not conveyed), Dallas’ 2028 second-round pick, Portland’s 2029 second-round pick, 2030 first-round pick (top-10 protection; turns into 2030 and 2031 second-rounders if not conveyed)
Bridges posted impressive stats for the Nets this season, averaging 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 43.6% from the field, 37.2% from beyond the arc, and 81.4% from the free-throw line, however failed to make the playoffs.
“Plenty of Pacers fans may view this as an overpay for Bridges. And it just might be. But the Nets reportedly turned down a midseason offer from the Houston Rockets that would have net Jalen Green and some of their own first-rounders,” Favale wrote.
“Indiana shouldn’t have a problem surrendering this much. Mathurin (right shoulder injury) and Walker were not integral cogs in the team’s conference finals run, and both have seen their big-picture fits thrown into question. Even without McConnell, Mathurin’s playing time will be capped if the Pacers are invested in the defense they get from Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard. Walker will struggle to carve out minutes if both Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin (restricted) stick around,” Favale added.
Bridges is set to earn $23.3 million next season, and acquiring him would be a strategic move to gather assets.
“Including two first-rounders and seconds on top of both, not to mention McConnell, is steep. But the absence of any swaps ensures Indiana can take stabs at first-round depth in alternating years. Oh yeah, and then there’s the whole ‘You suddenly have a core of Bridges, Nembhard, Siakam, Sheppard, probably Toppin, Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner’ thing. Aside from the Boston Celtics, show me a team you’re absolutely certain would be better off than that version of the Pacers,” Favale further noted.
“Forthcoming windfalls for Siakam (2024), Toppin (2024), Turner (2025) and Nembhard (2025-26 team option) could prompt Indy to worry. That’s fair. But Bridges won’t be due his own raise for another two years. That’s a window long enough in which to figure things out. And who knows, maybe Bridges pulls a Dejounte Murray and extends off his current contract. Reconciling this for Brooklyn is, quite predictably, much tougher. Make no mistake, it is a real offer. It’s also beatable. Other teams have more draft equity to unload. But unless the Nets are talking shop with the Rockets, they won’t control their own firsts until 2028. Any long-term leanings will still gravitate toward actual players when they don’t have the incentive to tank,”
Bridges, at 27 years old, is notably durable, having not missed a game in the last three years. He was First-team All-Defense in 2022, highlighting his defensive ability .
Bridges is exactly the type of player the Pacers need, with career averages of 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, having played for both the Phoenix Suns and the Nets. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Bridges could potentially be the missing piece for Indiana’s championship ambitions next season. Currently, he is the top option in Brooklyn, but he is better suited as the third-best player on a championship-caliber team.
If the Pacers succeed in acquiring Bridges this summer, they could form a formidable big three with Haliburton, Bridges, and Siakam, especially with talks indicating that Siakam’s contract is likely to be extended.