CLEVELAND — Send the Nets more picks. They can consider all the cash they want, too.Mikal Bridges’ short trek from Brooklyn to Manhattan two summers ago initiated arguments that got as heated as subway platforms in July. The Knicks traded five first-round picks and more stuff to the cross-town rival Nets to acquire Bridges, a reliable NBA wing without an All-Star Game to his name. Many saw it as a significant overpay for someone of his stature. New York’s decision-makers, though, identified Bridges as a critical piece for a team ready to transition into a serious challenger.For the trade to be justified, the Knicks had to quickly be in the chase for a championship. There’s no other way around it. Anything short of that could set the franchise back, as it emptied the bulk of its asset cabinet to get the move done. People could lose their job over such a gamble. One way or another, when the dust settles, whenever that is, an extreme result is going to present itself.Yet, here we are, almost two years since the move, and New York is a legitimate title contender again. Last year, it made the Eastern Conference finals before bowing out. This year, it’s right back in that same spot and, as history says, is going to be in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after taking a 3-0 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. No team in NBA history has fumbled a 3-0 series lead.The Knicks wouldn’t be here without Bridges. Not without those gangly limbs irking James Harden and Tyrese Maxey each time either one has tried to make something happen. Not without that buttery midrange jumper that floats over any tertiary defender an opponent puts in front of Bridges because it has bigger fish to worry about. Not without the marathon stamina that Bridges and his iron-man reputation carry as he turns hard defense into easy offense with ever-so-subtle anticipation.Bridges scored 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting Saturday night. He also had six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. More importantly, the Knicks are as serious of title contenders as they’ve been since frosted tips were in style.“He’s just got a good feel,” coach Mike Brown said. “He’s picking and choosing (when to go for steals), just like when he’s picking and choosing to go for his shot when we call his number. We need him to continue to do that. I told him and OG (Anunoby) that because I don’t call a lot of plays, you guys have to impose your will on the game. They’re both doing a phenomenal job of imposing their will on the game.”To better understand Bridges as a Knick, you have to first come to grips with the fact he didn’t ask to be traded for such a large haul. It was the front office that made that commitment. On the surface, Bridges was never going to live up to the trade value — or perceived expectations of what someone who is traded for that much capital should be capable of — because, well, that’s not what New York needed him to do. It had Jalen Brunson and would later acquire Karl-Anthony Towns to build its offense around. The Knicks needed Bridges, just like Anunoby, to be able to give hell defensively to the wings in Boston, while being able to fill in the gaps offensively with efficient shotmaking.