Rockets Have 'Trade Interest' in Nets' Mikal Bridges: Report

The Houston Rockets are interested in making a big trade for Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges.

Jeremy Brener | Jan 31, 2024

Rockets Have 'Trade Interest' in Nets' Mikal Bridges: Report /

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The Houston Rockets are a little over a week away from the NBA trade deadline ... and they may not be afraid to take a big swing.

While this trade deadline isn't expected to be as dramatic in regards to stars compared to last year when the Brooklyn Nets traded Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Rockets tried to tango once again with their former trade partner.

Mikal Bridges — Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

"Recently, the Houston Rockets were among the teams to register trade interest in Bridges, league sources told HoopsHype. Houston was prepared to send back several of Brooklyn’s unused remaining draft picks from the James Harden trade, but talks never got to that stage because the Nets declined to entertain anything for Bridges when Houston inquired," HoopsHype's Michael Scotto wrote.

The Nets traded for Bridges last year in the Durant deal and he's been their best player since. However, Brooklyn is hovering in the mediocrity zone at 19-27 and are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, which puts them on the outside looking in for the Play-In Tournament. Either the Nets need to trade the picks they acquired to get Bridges some help ... or they need to reset, and what better way to do that than with their own picks that the Rockets already own?

The Nets traded virtually their entire future in 2021 to acquire Harden, and it backfired. Now, the Nets are scrambling to forge a path forward, but they want that foundation to start with Bridges, hence why they are unwilling to make a deal with the Rockets.

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That's part of what the report teaches us, but the other half is about Houston and their interest in Bridges, along with their attitude to continue improving the roster around them.

The Rockets aren't afraid to push in their chips to get a true upgrade, but if they make a deal, it shouldn't be just for the sake of making a trade. The Rockets will have many chances to cash in these draft assets for a star ... they just need to be sure the timing and the player are right.

Published Jan 31, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.