After playing a crucial role in the Dallas Mavericks run to the Western Conference Finals, Jalen Brunson will be departing the team to sign with the New York Knicks in NBA free agency. The focus will now shift to reconfiguring the roster around Luka Doncic.
There was a scheduled meeting between Brunson and the Mavericks in New York City that was set to begin shortly after the opening of free agency. He elected to cancel the meeting as the official opening of free agency neared.
Expected to be in attendance from the Mavericks for the now-canceled meeting were owner Mark Cuban, general manager Nico Harrison, coach Jason Kidd, and president of basketball operations Michael Finley.
According to Shams Charania, the Knicks will be signing Brunson to a four-year, $110 million contract. The Mavericks will not have a chance to make an offer before he makes his commitment to play in New York.
The Knicks made a major effort to clear the necessary salary cap space to be able to outright sign Brunson without needing to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Mavericks.
LATEST NBA FREE AGENCY NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: New York Knicks Now Expected To Land Jalen Brunson In Free Agency
New York’s first move featured sending Kemba Walker to the Detroit Pistons during the NBA Draft. A separate trade sent Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel to the Pistons to clear the rest of the space.
When the Mavericks made the midseason trade to send Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards, part of the reasoning was to acquire Spencer Dinwiddie to insulate themselves from Brunson’s potential departure. Dallas also traded two second-round picks to acquire the No. 37 pick in this year’s NBA Draft in order to select former G-League Ignite standout Jaden Hardy to add guard depth.
LATEST NBA FREE AGENCY NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: New York Knicks Now Expected To Land Jalen Brunson In Free Agency
The Dallas Mavericks are not expected to pursue major guard talents to replace Jalen Brunson unless there was an opportunistic situation to capitalize. They have been mentioned often as suitors for potential wings with the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception.
