Early success proves that the Brooklyn Nets may have made a big mistake during the season

The Brooklyn Nets may have made a big mistake by trading Mikal Bridges in the offseason.

During the offseason, the Brooklyn Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in a deal they couldn’t refuse. From that aspect of the move, you can’t blame the Nets for pulling the trigger. But with the way Brooklyn has started this season, one can’t help but wonder if the Bridges trade will end up being viewed as something of a mistake for the team. With Bridges on the roster right now, the argument could be made that they would be off to an even better start.

Considering the Nets are 4-4, technically tied for third place (due to percentage points) in the Eastern Conference standings, Brooklyn may have missed an opportunity this season. With Bridges, this is a team that, if the first two weeks are any indication, could have been able to make the conference postseason. Sure, it’s only been eight games, but the early returns on the Nets are quite good. Heading into the start of the season, not much was expected from the Nets. At this point, the Nets have been the biggest surprise in the league.

The Nets have been fueled by their high-octane offense as they log early-season wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies (twice). The Nets have the offensive ranking no. 8 in the league and is led by Cam Thomas, who averages 25 points per game. match. Dennis Schroder has been fantastic in his own right, averaging 20 points and seven assists per game. match. Adding Bridges to this lineup, and this is a team that couldn’t be much more dangerous — and productive — than they already are.

If the Nets goal is to be relevant in the East, trading Bridges, with how this team has looked to start this season, could be considered a potential mistake. I’ll be the first to admit that five first-round picks for Bridges is an offer Brooklyn couldn’t refuse — especially considering how last season ended for the team. In a vacuum, though, it’s hard not to think about how this team would be playing right now if they never made that offseason move.

I suppose it’s easy to guess the move in retrospect. But as the Nets look at another rebuild of their roster, there has to be at least some curiosity about the “what ifs” involving the Bridges deal. The Nets are a fun story, but without Bridges or a legit star on the roster, the team is nothing more than that. A funny story. Perhaps with Bridges, this start to the season from the Nets would be much more than just an interesting observation.