According to ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon, the Knicks are considered promising to sign Mavericks guard Jaylen Brunson in the free market. Alliance sources said Brunson was widely expected to agree to a four-year, $100 million-plus contract with the Knicks after the free market opened on Thursday night, local time.
New York traded the No. 11 pick and point guard Kemba Walker on draft night, and they need to make at least one more trade to create the necessary cap space to sign Brunson. With Brunson gone, the Mavericks may opt for a sign-and-trade approach to recoup some of their assets.
The 25-year-old Brunson had an explosive performance last season, averaging 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. After officially entering the starting lineup in December last year, he became the third player behind Luka Doncic Two offensive options.
After the outstanding performance of in the playoffs, the Mavericks have made renewing Brunson's contract a top priority and are willing to provide a five-year contract. The average annual salary level is about the same as what the Raptors previously offered to VanVleet. 85 million is equivalent to 4 years.
But the Knicks obviously value Brunson more. His former agent Leon Rose is the current Knicks president of basketball operations, and his father Rick Brunson is the Knicks' newly hired assistant coach.
