The New York Knicks No. 1 goal this NBA offseason is to find a starting point guard. It is something that they have struggled to find for years, as they have seemingly been on the lookout for one since Walt Frazier was manning the point.
Luckily for the Knicks, there are a few options for them to target this offseason. They are going to do their due diligence and will check out every possible avenue, whether it be via trade or by a free agent signing.
One player that they have been heavily linked to is Jalen Brunson. He has numerous connections to the franchise, as Leon Rose was his agent at CAA before taking a job in the front office. One of his first clients was Rich Brunson, Jalen’s father, who is also going to be an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau’s staff this upcoming season.
But, to acquire Brunson, there is a lot of work left to do. The Knicks will have to clear some salary if they want to even make a run at him, as Brunson is expected to command a salary that pays him between $20-25 million annually.
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According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, that is exactly what New York is going to try and do.
“The New York Knicks are targeting approximately $25 million in cap space in order to pursue Jalen Brunson in free agency.
The Knicks are expected to trade Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel to free up salary.”
Alec Burks was extended last season as he was asked to be the starting point guard as Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose played in only 63 combined games. He did about as well as he could as the lead playmaker, showcasing a diverse skill set. Burks would help plenty of teams with his 3-point shooting and switchability on defense as well.
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Nerlens Noel was excellent for the Knicks during the 2020-21 season but was unable to stay on the court during the 2021-22 season. He played in only 25 games and is now expendable with the emergence of Jericho Sims.
To part ways with Burks and Noel, especially in a salary dump, the New York Knicks will likely have to attach another asset along with them. The No. 11 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft could do the trick, or New York can include one of their young players to sweeten the deal as well.
