Fresh off their 2026 championship run, the New York Knicks entered this season with heightened expectations and a massive target on their backs. Going from the hunter to the hunted is never easy, and the Knicks have learned that lesson the hard way after dropping four of their first seven games.

As the fans do everything to suppress their rising panic, more eyes are looking to the Knicks’ front office on how to proceed. Some, like NBA insider Stefan Bondy, have even gone as far as to suggest a Mikal Bridges trade to shake up the roster and solve the Knicks’ growing financial concerns.

“As the Knicks grapple with their second-apron mandate and extension eligibilities, the proposed solutions seem to be skipping over the obvious: Trade Mikal Bridges,” wrote Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “If we’re trying to make dollars and sense out of the conundrum, Bridges is the most expendable.”

“Bridges is basically platooning at the position with Landry Shamet, Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson. They’re all streaky, but Shamet has probably been the most effective thus far this season. If you combine the cap hits of McBride, Shamet, and Clarkson, it equates to about a third of Bridges’ salary. And entering Monday, Bridges had scored fewer points than Shamet or McBride while shooting at a worse percentage and attempting, amazingly, zero free throws.”

Even as the locker room still reeked of champagne, Knicks owner James Dolan made it clear that his team would not go over the second apron. That’s why they let go of Mitchell Robinson this summer, and why they continue to hold out on extension negotiations with Karl-Anthony Towns. But instead of risking Towns’ future, the Knicks could offload Bridges’ contract, which is set to pay him roughly $35 million per year over the next four years.

While Bridges played a big role in the Knicks’ title run, he’s been unrecognizable on the court this season, averaging 6.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 30.8% shooting from the field. Whether it’s just a shooting slump or something more serious is unclear, but the Knicks’ patience will not last forever.

If things don’t improve soon, the calls for a Bridges trade will only grow louder, especially as questions loom around the future of other core members. What they could actually get for the veteran swingman right now is debatable, but several teams could benefit from his arrival. A team like the Miami Heat, for example, would love a perimeter scorer like Bridges, but it remains to be seen if they have the assets to get a deal done.

A reunion with the Phoenix Suns could also be in play for Bridges, assuming Phoenix is willing to part with some pieces of their own. Namely, someone like Dillon Brooks or Jalen Green would be required to start negotiations.

Whether it’s the Heat, Suns, or some other team, there would surely be suitors for Bridges on the trade market, if the Knicks are willing to look. For now, it may still be too early for them to consider such measures, but it may not be long before the pressure starts to force action.