When the New York Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, it was always anticipated that they would throw in an extra piece to offload salary this upcoming season. On Thursday, Sham Charania of The Athletic announced that the Knicks were signing and trading Shake Milton as part of the Bridges deal, which included Bojan Bogdanovic and his salary.
Player Movements and Contract Details
Brooklyn sent back Keita Bates-Diop to the Knicks. The Nets immediately extended Milton on a three-year, $9 million contract, which included two non-guaranteed years at the end of the deal. This past season, the 27-year-old made 48 appearances in Minnesota, Detroit, and New York. He averaged 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 12.1 minutes per game.
Milton made four appearances with the Knicks during the playoffs, averaging just 1.3 points. His best season came back in 2020–21 with the Philadelphia 76ers, when he averaged 13 points, shooting .450 from the field, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
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The Knicks Get Back a Depth Forward
In return, Bates-Diop offers the Knicks a depth forward. The 28-year-old played in 53 games this past season between Phoenix and Brooklyn, averaging 3.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and shot .434 from the field. There’s a good chance that the Knicks will cut Bates-Diop in the end, but for now, he will have a chance to earn his role on the bench as a reserve option.