3 teams that could pursue trade for Nets star Mikal Bridges after season

2. New York Knicks

This list wouldn't be complete without including the club whose own members recently stirred this proverbial pot in the first place.

The podcast that Bridges caught heat from Nets fans for being on is hosted by Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, two of the forward's closest friends in the league as well as his former teammates from back during their collegiate days at Villanova.

Both have publicly dropped hints throughout the years that they'd like to reunite in the NBA, with Hart going as far as to comedically recruit the 27-year-old in a rather blatent manner on the podcast episode.

Rising the ranks in the east, with Brunson and a healthy Julius Randle leading the charge New York is a legitimate top-four team in the conference standings and, to many, is viewed as a major threat come playoff time.

Of course, for any club looking to vie for a championship, there's always room for improvement. Might they view said improvement as being the addition of Bridges?

With a minimum of two first-round picks in this upcoming draft, coupled with all the rights to their future capital, the Knicks could put together an enticing offer to dangle in front of Brooklyn's brass should they truly covet the forward's talents this summer.

However, being the rivalry that exists between the two franchises, coupled with the sheer closeness in proximity that they reside within, it's all but certain the Nets won't be dealing Bridges to Manhattan anytime soon.

Nevertheless, this probably wouldn't stop the Knicks from inquiring about a trade.