Potential Sign & Trade with Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks will not want to give Jalen Brunson up, but should he decide to leave and join the New York Knicks, the best scenario for them would be to try and gain any sort of assets from losing Brunson.
Assuming he signs a four-year, $80 million deal that has been rumored, the Knicks could potentially look to ship Kemba Walker and one or two second-round picks to Dallas in a sign-and-trade deal for Brunson.
Kemba Walker is not going to be in the Knicks’ long-term plans entering the offseason and with him entering the final year of his contract and set to make $9.1 million, the Mavericks could take a chance on Walker and absorb his contract using their $10.8 million TPE that is set to expire over the summer.
While they would still be over the luxury tax threshold with this move, Dallas is going to be running into a major financial problem over the next few years and even if they were to keep Jalen Brunson, they would still have to try and find ways to move some contracts off their books.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Knicks vs Mavericks Wednesday: Lineups, Injury Reports & Broadcast Info
Seven players that are currently under contract for next season are set to make at least $10 million for the Dallas Mavericks, limiting their ability to keep Jalen Brunson on a new long-term, high-paying deal.
It is definitely still possible, but they would need to have a plan in place to get rid of one or two other high-paying contracts, meaning they would explore trade opportunities including Dwight Powell and/or Davis Bertans.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Knicks vs Mavericks Wednesday: Lineups, Injury Reports & Broadcast Info
The worst kept secret around the NBA right now is that the Knicks are going to be pursuing Jalen Brunson and acquiring him in a sign-and-trade deal this upcoming offseason is definitely not crazy to believe.
Brunson will always be the “understudy” in Dallas next to Luka Doncic and in New York, he could really make a name for himself and become the start of their backcourt next to RJ Barrett and Julius Randle.
