Former NBA guard Jeff Teague has called for the New York Knicks to trade forward Mikal Bridges, labeling his performance drop-off this season as alarmingly bad. Teague made the comments on the Club 520 Podcast, pointing to a stark contrast in Bridges' production compared to last year's championship run. The Knicks, despite a 107-115 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 11, have won four of their last five games.
Teague did not hold back in his assessment. "Yeah, it’s time to move on. It’s just like so bad," Teague said. "I’ve never seen nobody go from this to this, and still be a starter." He highlighted the drastic nature of the decline, questioning how a player could fall off so significantly after just 11 games. Teague noted that a typical starter would still manage a 15-to-25-point night within a handful of games, implying Bridges has failed to meet that baseline. The criticism centers on Bridges' scoring and overall impact, which have noticeably diminished from his contributions during the Knicks' 2026 title season.
The situation is complicated by the massive trade package the Knicks surrendered to acquire Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. The deal cost the franchise four unprotected first-round picks, a pick swap, an additional protected first-rounder, and a second-round pick. Investing that level of draft capital signals a player meant to be a core piece, not someone struggling to stay in the rotation. Bridges, 30, was a key two-way contributor last season, providing defense and efficient scoring. His current slump creates a significant hole in the lineup and puts pressure on other players like Jalen Brunson to carry more offensive load. The team's strong recent form, including wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, has masked the issue for now.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau now faces a tough rotation decision. Does he stick with Bridges in hopes he rediscovers his form, or does he reduce his minutes? The Knicks' immediate focus shifts to their next game, a road contest against the Indiana Pacers on November 13. Performance in that matchup could influence internal discussions. From a front-office perspective, Teague's public comments add to the external pressure. Finding a trade partner for a high-salary player in a slump is notoriously difficult. The Knicks might need to wait for Bridges to string together a few good games to rebuild any trade value. For now, the team must handle this challenge while maintaining their position near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
