Mikal Bridges contract extension: Will the new Knicks star give the team another discount?

The New York Knicks could soon learn if Jalen Brunson has set a new precedent with the team.

Brunson did the Knicks a huge favor this offseason by signing a four-year contract extension worth $156 million. Had Brunson waited a year to become a free agent, he would have been eligible for a five-year, $269 million contract. He essentially left $113 million on the table.

While Brunson said long-term security is important to him, the decision also gives the Knicks financial flexibility to avoid the dreaded second frontcourt player, which would significantly limit the way they build their team.

Now Mikal Bridges is in a position to do something similar.

Bridges is up for renewal on October 1st. His contract runs for two years and is worth $48 million. Bridges and the Knicks cannot negotiate an extension after the start of the regular season.

Veteran NBA insider Marc Stein previously reported that people around the league believe Bridges will follow in Brunson's footsteps and take a team-friendly extension.

The question is how much and when.

According to CBS's Sam Quinn, Bridges is currently limited to a two-year extension at a 120% raise. That represents an extension of approximately two years and $61 million.

While Bridges might be willing to sign a team-friendly deal, as Quinn notes, this could be the case to Team friendly.

Bridges could use his new teammate OG Anunoby as a role model. Anunoby is also a versatile 3-and-D winger whose value to teams is greater than his individual value. Anunoby hit free agency this summer and received a five-year, $212 million contract from the Knicks. He likely would have received a max contract offer from another team.

Bridges could probably fetch a similar price on the open market.

That means Bridges could forego an extension this October and instead sign an extension next offseason. According to Quinn, the most he could get for this extension is about four years and $156 million – the same deal Brunson just signed.

And while Bridges is worth that number, it's worth wondering if the Knicks would view it as team-friendly. After all, it would be the same amount as their All-NBA captain. It would be the maximum Bridges could achieve at that moment, just as it was for Brunson.

If Bridges were to sign this extension through 2026-27, the Knicks would have tied up over $148 million on Anunoby, Brunson, Bridges, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo alone. That's a much better position than many other teams would reach with five rock-solid rotation players, but that doesn't include Miles McBride's deal or other players' rookie deals. The Knicks wouldn't have much room to add to their roster.

But would Bridges really consider taking less? As mentioned, Bridges could likely fetch a near-max contract on the open market. This next contract will be his last deal in his prime. A four-year extension would bring him to 34 years. This next contract will likely be the biggest of his career, and it would be understandable if he wants to maximize his earnings as much as possible.

Of course, Bridges is where he wants to be now. He reportedly planned to request a trade to the Knicks. He will play a big role on a successful team, surrounded by three of his college friends. All three of these friends signed team-friendly deals and, in the case of Brunson and Hart, left some money on the table in different ways.

If the Knicks sign another team-friendly contract with a key rotation player, it will only enhance their reputation as one of the best-run teams in the league.

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