Nets Rumors: Mikal Bridges Eyed by Rockets, BK 'Declined to Entertain' Trade Talks

Despite interest from the Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets have reportedly remained steadfast in their desire to keep star forward Mikal Bridges.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nets "declined to entertain" any offers when the Rockets called them about a potential Bridges trade.

According to The Athletic's Kelly Iko, Shams Charania and Sam Amick, the Rockets offered "multiple first-round picks" in recent weeks, but the Nets had "zero interest" in dealing Bridges.

Scotto had noted the Rockets were reportedly willing to send the Nets back several of the draft picks they traded them when Houston dealt James Harden to Brooklyn in 2021.

When the Nets traded Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns last season, Bridges was the main piece in the package they received.

The 27-year-old Bridges was originally the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, and over his five seasons in Phoenix, Bridges established himself as an excellent defensive player and a strong complementary scorer.

However, Bridges was pushed into a more substantial role when he arrived in Brooklyn, and it resulted in his averaging 26.1 points per game in 27 games for the Nets last season.

So far this season, Bridges has appeared in 46 contests, and he is averaging 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 three-pointers made, all of which would be career highs over the course of an entire season.

Bridges leads Brooklyn in scoring and minutes per game, and he is the only Nets player who hasn't missed a game, meaning trading him would leave a massive hole on the roster.

The Nets' current roster construction hasn't yielded great results, though, as they are just 19-27, which has them 11th in the Eastern Conference and a half-game behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final postseason play-in spot.

Even so, the Nets would perhaps be more willing to trade away a player on an expiring contract such as Spencer Dinwiddie, Royce O'Neale or Nic Claxton, rather than a player signed through 2025-26 like Bridges.

It comes as little surprise that a team like the Rockets has inquired about Bridges since he would seemingly fit their timeline perfectly.

Houston won 22 or fewer games in three straight seasons entering 2023-24, but it has already reached the 22-win mark this season with a 22-24 record.

The continued development of young players like Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. has played a role in the improvement, as has the arrival of veteran players Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, and head coach Ime Udoka.

Like the Nets, the Rockets are 11th in the Western Conference and are just a half-game out of a postseason play-in position.

Getting a taste of playoff basketball this season could work wonders for the Rockets in terms of helping them get to the next level in future years, and given that they have plenty of draft capital to barter with, they figure to remain active in trade discussions even if Bridges is off the table.