Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson held their introductory press convention simply minutes after being named starters for the Nets’ matchup in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. The two gamers had been the spotlight of the deal, together with the 4 first-round picks Brooklyn pried from the Phoenix Suns within the transfer that despatched famous person ahead Kevin Durant out West.
Durant’s need to go to Phoenix after back-to-back failed championship pursuits in Brooklyn was the staff’s worst-kept secret. It was his prime most popular commerce vacation spot, as The Daily News reported, when he demanded a commerce over the summer time.
And the worst-kept secret in Phoenix was on the opposite finish of the coin: If Durant was, certainly, headed to the Suns, it greater than seemingly meant Bridges and Johnson had been on the primary aircraft out.
“We kinda knew,” Bridges mentioned on Saturday. “There had been quite a lot of jokes, particularly in the summertime when KD wished to return right here, and we knew the items and who is perhaps those that had been gonna go.
“And us two were the main two. We always joked around and said at least we got us. At least we got us.”
There are not any onerous emotions between Bridges, Johnson and the Suns, and each seem keen for his or her recent begin on the East Coast. Bridges is accustomed to the realm: He is from Philadelphia, performed school ball at Villanova and has pals from faculty who moved to Brooklyn after commencement. Johnson is from Moon Township, Pa., and cut up his school years between Pittsburgh and North Carolina.
Both had been included in what is perhaps the most important commerce deadline deal within the historical past of the game. Both perceive why the Suns made the transfer.
“I a-hundred-percent get it, and that’s just how it is,” Bridges mentioned. “I’d quite say I’d actually be blissful I bought traded for KD than in all probability like, any individual else who I didn’t suppose can be good, or one thing like that. So, simply being a realist on the finish of the day.
“Obviously I’ll miss everybody there, miss my home, miss all my friends that’s back there. But, I mean, I get it, you’re getting Kevin Durant, bro. Maybe I’ll probably make that trade too.”
Neither Bridges nor Johnson might assist themselves from laughing. It’s humorous the best way all of it performed out.
The Suns had simply left Brooklyn after defeating the Nets, 116-112, and had been in Atlanta making ready for a matchup in opposition to the Hawks when the dominos began to fall.
Johnson was getting late-night remedy accomplished to organize the following day’s recreation. Bridges was “chillin on [his] iPad” earlier than he bought a name.
The name was from his ex-teammate Damion Lee, who was visibly upset whereas breaking the information to Bridges.
“He was like, ‘Bro, I’m sorry,’” Bridges recalled. “I used to be so confused. I’m like, ‘What you talking about?’
“He said, ‘You just got traded for KD.’”
Bridges couldn’t imagine it. He checked Twitter for affirmation. Then he tweeted “OMYGOD” and referred to as his agent. Shortly after, he referred to as Johnson. He went to Johnson’s room. The remainder of the staff adopted.
“That was like a little last supper type of vibes,” Bridges mentioned.
In reality, the 2 wings knew today would come. They knew Mat Ishbia, who lately accomplished the acquisition of the Phoenix Suns, would wish to make a splash to begin his possession with a bang. And they noticed the writing on the wall when Durant mentioned the Suns had been his most popular commerce vacation spot over the summer time.
“Obviously we had known that these rumors had been flying around for a handful of months now, but to see it actually executed, at that time, there’s still a little bit of shock value to it,” Johnson mentioned. “But quickly I feel like we adjusted, got here, got as settled as we could be, and got ready for tonight.”
“We’ve had plenty of time to talk about it really. …. We’ve had a lot of time to wrap our mind around the possibility.”
In the top, they nonetheless have one another.
The Suns drafted Bridges and Johnson in consecutive drafts, and Johnson didn’t play in Summer League his rookie 12 months. The two spent that summer time understanding collectively in Las Vegas.
“From that point on, we kind of did everything together,” Johnson mentioned. “We worked out together, we chilled off the court together, we ate, we watched film together.”
A few months into that season, their outdated teammate, Suns middle Deandre Ayton, gave them a nickname.
The Twins.
“And three-and-a-half years later, we’re stuck with it,” Johnson mentioned.
It’s been a tumultuous final 72 hours for the most recent pair of Nets, however they’re key items in what the entrance workplace hopes is a fast retool round a bunch of younger gamers who will scrap, claw and battle each minute they’re on the ground.
Call it the unpredictable enterprise of basketball.
“It happened, and still to this day, it’s like, at least I got my twin with me,” Bridges mentioned. “That’s how it goes.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com