Forget about the absolute stink-fest Mikal Bridges is putting the New York Knicks through to begin the 2026 NBA season for a second and remember the good times of last season, when the Knicks finally brought home a championship.
And it's the story of not burning Bridges that the New York Giants could learn a thing or two from. The former Villanova standout helped the Knicks win a ring, but it wasn't that long ago that he and the team were catching a lot of flak for one of the costliest trades in NBA history.
Back in July 2024, the Knicks sent four unprotected first-round picks and a top-four-protected 2025 first-rounder to the Brooklyn Nets to acquire the then-28-year-old. It was a ridiculous amount of draft capital to give up for someone who wasn't considered a star, and when New York failed to win a championship in his first season, the criticism rightfully came pouring in.
But then came 2025-26. The Knicks finally got over the hump, and suddenly, that massive haul of draft picks didn't seem so outrageous anymore. Funny how winning changes everything.
During a livestream following the championship celebrations, Bridges, perhaps with a few celebratory drinks in his system, famously declared, "f--- them picks." And with the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline approaching, the NFC East-leading Giants might want to borrow a page from their Madison Square Garden neighbors' playbook.
Because if there's ever been a time for Big Blue to embrace a little "f--- them picks" energy, it's right now.
Mikal Bridges gave the Giants the perfect trade deadline philosophy
Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. It's very much a year-by-year league, which makes the Giants' current situation all the more interesting. They're 4-2-1, sitting atop the division, and have a real shot at playing football in January. Who knows if they'll be in this position again next year, let alone five years from now? This is a team that hasn't won the division since 2011... so.
There will be plenty of you rolling your eyes at the notion of going big this season. I can already hear the "let's wait until next year to put our chips in the middle" and "they aren't one trade away from being Super Bowl contenders" whining. I have two words for you, mate: So what?
Who's to say waiting another year will put them any closer to competing for a championship?
They already have limited picks in the 2027 Draft. Eff 'em.
The reality is this team is a defensive line upgrade, a running back, and probably some offensive line help away from feeling dangerous. You can argue that having J.J. McCarthy under center isn't the most ideal, but through five quarters, he's looked every bit like the first-round talent he was drafted to be.
This is where Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh shouldn't be afraid to swing big for players like Vita Vea, Jonathan Taylor, Tuli Tuipulotu, or even Brian Thomas Jr., rather than settling for the discount versions in Dalvin Tomlinson, Tony Pollard, Josh Uche, or Calvin Ridley.
Sure, going for broke comes with risks. But if the Giants are serious about making the most of this unexpected opportunity, maybe it's time to stop thinking so small.
As the wise Tom Hardy once said in Inception:
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