Nets trading Mikal Bridges to Knicks surprised Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart

The Brooklyn Nets made one of the most shocking moves last week when they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for forward Bojan Bogdanovic and as many as five first-round picks. Not only had there not been recent history of the Nets and Knicks doing business with each other, but Bridges being the one who was traded surprised many, including a couple of current Knicks.

In a recent episode of the “Roommates Show” podcast, New York’s Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart discussed many topics related to free-agency, including the moves that the Knicks made. One of the main stories to come up was New York trading for Bridges, something that both Brunson and Hart were taken aback by.

“I think it caught all of us by surprise because I actually was talking to (Mikal) like three hours before. We were just talking, really. Just saying nothing like we was just in there chopping it up and then, we hang up,” Hart said.

Ironically enough, Bridges and Hart had a hilarious exchange on Instagram about a possible reunion between the former Villanova teammates while Hart was participating in ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Finals. Brunson also gave his take on the trade that seemingly catapulted the Knicks to potential championship contenders while the Nets get the rebuild that many in NBA spaces had been begging them to do.

“I was in Chicago last week doing my camp at my high school and then, we went to dinner. I’m literally picking up sushi from the other side of the table and Miles, the Knicks’ videographer, he’s like ‘damn Knicks just got Mikal.’ I just started laughing, he’s like ‘no for real look.’ Man, I ran out the door with my phone and called y’all right away.” Brunson said.

Similar to Hart and Brunson, many around the NBA were surprised on two fronts: that Bridges was traded at all after the Nets made him virtually untouchable and that the Nets and Knicks made a trade with each other for the first time since 1983. However, many view the trade as beneficial for both franchises and it seems that both fanbases are equally as happy.