NBA Draft Rumors: Mavs-Cavs trade, Nets misplaying Bridges, Lakers targets, more

NBA Draft rumors: Nets asking too much for Mikal Bridges

The Brooklyn Nets are clinging tightly to Mikal Bridges, who was the centerpiece of the Kevin Durant trade return last February. Bridges excelled in his initial stint with Brooklyn, averaging career-best numbers across the board: 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 34.2 minutes per game.

With the Nets not being well positioned to contend, 26-year-old Bridges has been fodder in the trade rumor mill. And, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Portland Trail Blazers are eagerly pursuing the wing.

Per Lowe, the Blazers offered the No. 3 pick in Thursday night’s draft as well as ascendant guard Anfernee Simons for Bridges, but Brooklyn declined. That has evidently led other teams to believe that Brooklyn is overvaluing Bridges.

For Sean Marks and the Nets front office, this is tricky territory. On one hand, the odds of Brooklyn competing for a championship before Bridges hits unrestricted free agency in 2026 are extremely slim. On the other hand, the Nets have no real incentive to pursue a full-tilt rebuild after trading all their picks to acquire James Harden and Kevin Durant. If Brooklyn bottoms out, they won’t even get those top picks.

The No. 3 pick and Simons is a juicy offer; Simons provides All-Star upside in his own right and is three years younger. Meanwhile, the No. 3 pick’s value is contingent on who’s available. The Nets should be far more interested in Scoot Henderson than Brandon Miller, for example. Either way, it’s hard to blame the Nets for placing significant stock in Bridges, a DPOY finalist who showed the ability to operate efficiently as the team’s No. 1 scoring option last season.