East Rumors: Nets, Mikal Bridges, Knicks, Wizards

Nets

Despite some internet rumors, the Nets aren’t looking to trade forward Mikal Bridges, per multiple reports. Instead, they seem to be determined to build the team around him.

One report suggested the Trail Blazers may have an interest in Bridges, but the Nets don’t seem interested in that, according to Alex Schiffer of The Athletic.

“Coming out of the combine, my understanding was the Nets aren’t interested in trading Bridges to Portland and would want more than the No. 3 pick and (Anfernee Simons or Shaedon Sharpe) than just those two assets, if they did,” Schiffer wrote.

The Rockets are drafting at No. 4 overall and have been linked to a Bridges trade as well. But there’s no truth to that chatter either, added John Hollinger of The Athletic.

“The Nets don’t seem to have much incentive to play ball here,” Hollinger wrote. “Brooklyn owes unprotected picks to Houston in 2024 and 2026 and unprotected swaps in 2025 and 2027. Thus, Brooklyn trading its good players and tanking would do a lot more for the Rockets than the Nets. Brooklyn’s likely best path forward is to muddle along with a Bridges-centric team, especially since he’s signed through 2026 to one of the league’s best contracts.”

Knicks

Power forward Julius Randle likely isn’t going anywhere, despite some interest around the league. As noted by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Knicks are hoping to build off some late-season momentum.

“In talking with Knicks brass in the front office, they value his toughness and his ability to stay on the court,” Scotto said on the HoopsHype podcast. “He’s played 71 or more games in three consecutive seasons and been an All-Star two of the past three seasons, which is something I think is notable in the load management era.”

• The Knicks continue to be linked to Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, who Tom Thibodeau coached in Minnesota. “From what I’ve heard from a couple of people in touch with them, they felt the temperature was a little down on the interest in Towns compared to where it was very early on in the Leon Rose tenure,” SNY.tv’s Ian Begley said on the HoopsHype podcast. “How do you get better if you’re the Knicks? Are you doing minor tweaks and hoping for internal improvement? Or are you making a big swing? I’d assume this is the summer to make the big swing.”

Wizards

• In case you missed it, new Wizards head of basketball operations Michael Winger is expected to bring in another front office person to complement him and head up scouting/player evaluation, as we relayed here. Winger is being hired away from his position as Clippers assistant GM.