The NBA free agency journey of Jalen Brunson will attract a lot of attention. He is going to cash in on quite a raise this offseason as he is having a career season in the final year of his rookie contract.
Brunson averaged 16.3 points on a tidy .502/.373/.840 shooting split, adding 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game in the regular season. He was excellent filling in for Luka Doncic whenever he missed time and has stepped his game up to another level in the postseason.
Brunson was integral to the Dallas Mavericks opening up a 2-1 lead in their first-round series against the Utah Jazz with Doncic sidelined by a strained calf. Even with Doncic back in the lineup, Brunson has continued to produce.
In the postseason, the Villanova product is averaging 22.8 points, 3.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and one steal per game. His 3-point shooting percentage has dipped to only 30.6 percent, but he is still converting half of his 2-point attempts.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst NBA Free Agency Landing Spots For Mavericks Star Jalen Brunson
That sound you hear is the Brinks truck backing up to Brunson’s residence as he is going to get paid in NBA free agency. The Dallas Mavericks would love to retain him even with their rising tax bill, but there will be plenty of teams pursuing him as well.
The New York Knicks have been the most prominently mentioned team. The Detroit Pistons have also been mentioned as a landing spot. Another team to keep an eye on could be the Houston Rockets.
Normally teams that are at the stage of rebuilding that the Houston Rockets are wouldn’t be players in NBA free agency, but Brunson is someone that would make for a sensible target. His presence would help the young players continue to develop, as Kevin Porter Jr. can fall into a sixth-man role and Jalen Green will have another player that can create some offense in the starting backcourt.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst NBA Free Agency Landing Spots For Mavericks Star Jalen Brunson
Houston does not have the cap space to sign Brunson outright, so they would have to work on a sign-and-trade deal. While it has been reported that Dallas has no interest in helping facilitate an S&T, they should change their mind if Brunson is certain about leaving.
The Rockets would be able to build a package around Christian Wood and Eric Gordon, two players that would fit well in Dallas. Brunson is expected to land a deal that pays him at least $20 million annually, but that shouldn’t scare off Houston.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst NBA Free Agency Landing Spots For Mavericks Star Jalen Brunson
By the time their young players are ready for extensions, Jalen Brunson’s deal will be nearing an end. At 26-years old, he will still have some prime years left as well if the Hoston Rockets decide they want to retain him beyond the contract he lands this offseason.
