They’ve made some trades and moves to have the cap room to sign the guard.
The New York Knicks have made it VERY clear: They need a point guard, and they’re going to stop at practically nothing to sign one of the top options on the market, Jalen Brunson.
From wheeling and dealing on draft night to a move made just a couple of days before the free agency period begins on Thursday, the Knicks have carved out enough cap room to bring in Brunson on a big deal.
Is it a risk to do all this for Brunson after he broke out this season for the Dallas Mavericks? Maybe. But it’s for sure an upgrade if he indeed signs, as it’s been reported he’ll do.
While there could be fireworks this offseason on the trade front, there might not be much movement from the top players on the free agency side. It seems like a decent bet that the four top All-Stars in this year’s class ( James Harden, Kyrie …
While there could be fireworks this offseason on the trade front, there might not be much movement from the top players on the free agency side. It seems like a decent bet that the four top All-Stars in this year’s class (James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, and Zach LaVine) will return to their current teams. After them, there are potential future All-Stars in Deandre Ayton, Miles Bridges, Collin Sexton, and Anfernee Simons, but their restricted free agency status could hinder a change.
Then there’s Jalen Brunson, who may have seen the biggest rise in stock in the last regular season and maintained it after Dallas’ deep playoff run. The four-year guard is finishing his rookie contract and will become an unrestricted free agent who could command $20-25 million annually. Most of the teams that can offer that much cap space could be reasonable fits for him. It’s possible Brunson generates the largest bidding war out of any other free agent this summer.
It’s also possible the Mavericks could have locked him in earlier at a lower rate had they structured his original contract in a way that allows him to become a free agent after his third year. This way he would’ve become a restricted free agent last offseason. They reportedly also had a chance to extend him before the season started for the maximum four-year, $55.6 million amount he’s currently eligible to sign by June 30, 2022.
As with the many players listed above, it also seems like a good bet that the Mavericks will spend what it takes to re-sign Brunson. Owner Mark Cuban already went as far to say that he plans on being deep in the luxury tax next season to retain the roster. Still, it’s worth exploring what’s out there for Brunson since there are so many good fits for him and realistic ways these teams could land him.
While there could be fireworks this offseason on the trade front, there might not be much movement from the top players on the free agency side. It seems like a decent bet that the four top All-Stars in this year’s class (James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, and Zach LaVine) will return to their current teams. After them, there are potential future All-Stars in Deandre Ayton, Miles Bridges, Collin Sexton, and Anfernee Simons, but their restricted free agency status could hinder a change.
Then there’s Jalen Brunson, who may have seen the biggest rise in stock in the last regular season and maintained it after Dallas’ deep playoff run. The four-year guard is finishing his rookie contract and will become an unrestricted free agent who could command $20-25 million annually. Most of the teams that can offer that much cap space could be reasonable fits for him. It’s possible Brunson generates the largest bidding war out of any other free agent this summer.
It’s also possible the Mavericks could have locked him in earlier at a lower rate had they structured his original contract in a way that allows him to become a free agent after his third year. This way he would’ve become a restricted free agent last offseason. They reportedly also had a chance to extend him before the season started for the maximum four-year, $55.6 million amount he’s currently eligible to sign by June 30, 2022.
As with the many players listed above, it also seems like a good bet that the Mavericks will spend what it takes to re-sign Brunson. Owner Mark Cuban already went as far to say that he plans on being deep in the luxury tax next season to retain the roster. Still, it’s worth exploring what’s out there for Brunson since there are so many good fits for him and realistic ways these teams could land him.
Winning playoff basketball games is hard to do. Just ask a guy like Tracy McGrady who never made it out of the first round during his Hall of Fame-worthy career until he became an end-of-bench player for the Spurs in his final season.
Damian Lillard’s teams have made first-round exits in four of its past five playoff appearances. It even took Chris Paul until his 10th playoff appearance to finally advance to a conference final.
Luka Doncic, and the Mavericks in general, know that feeling all too well.
Dallas hadn’t won a playoff series since 2011 and Luka never had until the Mavs knocked off the Utah Jazz in six games last round. But one thing to take away from the series against Utah was how dispersed Dallas’ scoring was across the roster. Whether it was Jalen Brunson scoring 41 points and Maxi Kleber’s 25 (with Luka injured), or the seven Mavs reaching double figures in Game 3, winning came by way of scattered production — the common denominator in most Mavericks playoff wins over the past three years.
That didn’t happen in Dallas’ Game 1 loss to the Suns, but it needs to if the Mavs (+6.5 at Tipico in Game 2) are going to take the series.
Dallas can’t afford to have nights in which Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie and Reggie Bullock combine to score just 28 points on 11 of 31 shooting. Even if Doncic is going to supply 45 of the team’s 114 total points.
Opposing teams have been and will always be fine with that process. Looking back at the Mavericks’ wins during the previous series’ against the Jazz and Clippers, it usually took a Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber or Jalen Brunson dominant scoring outing alongside Luka to really push the Mavs over the top. Or even multiple others scoring 15-20 points as Luka does video game stuff.
So, how does that happen?
Some may interpret it as Luka needing to get off the ball more often and let other versatile playmakers like Brunson and Dinwiddie control a few more possessions per game. Others may see it as guys surrounding Luka simply needing to knock down shots and taking advantage of their opportunities when presented.
Both ways of thinking can be true. But however you slice it, it’s going to have to come from a committee if Dallas wants to pull off a series upset.
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Brunson is averaging nearly 30 points through four games against Utah.
Jalen Brunson has been one of the NBA’s biggest breakout stars of the postseason, and his rise came just when the Dallas Mavericks needed it most.
The fourth-year guard out of Villanova was already established as an important piece in his team’s lineup, but with Luka Doncic out the first three games of their series against the Utah Jazz, he took his game up a notch. After averaging a career-best 16.3 points in the regular season, he’s averaging 29.8 through four playoff games. That includes 41 and 31 in Games 2 and 3, both wins for the Mavs.
These performances are going to earn him a huge payday as an unrestricted free agent this summer. NBA pro personnel scouts and executives polled for an ESPN story anticipate a floor of $20 million annually for Brunson, who played this season on a $1.8 million salary. But first he has at least two more playoff games to continue building his stock, and I think he will.
That means before he cashes in, bettors can. His scoring prop for Game 5 is 20.5 points on Tipico Sportsbook, and I’m looking for him to hit the over a fifth straight game.
The Mavs had a chance to sign Jalen Brunson to a $55.5M extension. They passed. Then it was too late. He’ll get much more after starring in playoffs. “Ain’t no discount,” his NBA-ex dad told ESPN.
If there’s an expectation that Doncic’s return will impact Brunson’s production, that didn’t pan out as dramatically in Game 4 as this line suggests it will in Game 5. Brunson’s shot attempts dropped from an average of about 24 through the first three games to 18 with Doncic in the lineup, but that number was still second on the team. He managed 23 points on those attempts in what was an off-shooting game – he made just seven field goals. Brunson hasn’t scored fewer points in any other game.
If he gets as many attempts in Game 5, there’s no reason to believe he won’t be more efficient after shooting 50% from the field and 37% from three during the regular season. He’s also averaging seven free throw attempts in the series. With those numbers, he would easily eclipse 20 points once again and maybe even add another 0 to his earning potential this summer.
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Jalen Brunson scored 41 points for the Mavericks, who played without Luka Doncic but still defeated the Jazz. It was but another feather in his cap.
Now in his fourth professional season, Brunson enjoyed career-best figures in points and rebounds, assists, and steals. Among those with the highest rate of their offense derived as the ball handler in pick and roll sets, none were more efficient than Brunson.
He is a three-level scorer of the rare breed that shoots better off the bounce than the catch, making him fit into the coveted shot-creator archetype. Every team in the league would benefit from his offensive presence.
Whereas other big-name free agents (e.g., James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal) may simply opt into their player options, Brunson has an entirely different situation as an unrestricted free agent.
Unlike Chicago’s Zach LaVine, an unrestricted free agent who will likely remain with the Bulls, there are rumblings Brunson could find a new home this offseason. He is seen as a flight risk, and he is expected to earn north of $20 million per season.
However, with performances like what we saw against the Jazz, perhaps there is a bidding war. The Pacers, Pistons, and Knicks all have reported interest. He is playing so well that he might just price himself out of Dallas’ range to re-sign him.
The Tip-Off
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
For The Win’s Prince Grimes isn’t sure who he thinks deserves the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. Maybe it’s Jokic. Maybe it’s Embiid. Who knows?
We’ve talked about the candidacies ad nauseam, but per Grimes, one thing we’re not going to discuss is the role the postseason has in the MVP debate. It’s a regular-season award, he argues, which means folks on Twitter need to let go of the “narrative” when the Nuggets take on the mighty Warriors.
“This notion that what the Warriors are doing to the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs somehow robs Jokic of MVP credibility is asinine. And I’ve seen plenty of people making that argument on social media. If anything, the way this series is going further solidifies his case.”
You can read more from Grimes on this topic, and others, by clicking here.
One to Watch
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Grizzlies (-6.5, -300) vs. Timberwolves (+230), O/U 240.5, 8:30 PM ET
With all due respect to the other playoff games broadcasting tonight, are you kidding me? When the Timberwolves play the Grizzlies. We get to watch two of the game’s brightest young stars, Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant, duel it out.
Minnesota has the advantage thus far, but I’m not betting against Memphis. While there are some lingering health concerns, the Grizzlies were by far my favorite team to watch all season.
Who’s in and out?
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
— Heat: Bam Adebayo (quad) is probable, PJ Tucker (calf) and Markieff Morris (hip) are questionable
— Hawks: Lou Williams (back) is out, Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) is probable
— Timberwolves: Taurean Prince (knee) is probable
Shootaround
— Woj worries in-arena gambling will lead to unruly fans during games
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Rookie big man Alperen Sengun had 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes, but Houston connected on just 4-of-28 from 3-point range (14.3%) in a blowout loss at Dallas.
Rookie big man Alperen Sengun had 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes on Wednesday, but Houston connected on just 4-of-28 from 3-point range (14.3%) in a 110-91 loss (box score) at Dallas.
Sengun connected on 6-of-12 shots from the field (50.0%), and he also had 2 steals and 2 assists. Other Houston players to score in double-figures included Jae’Sean Tate (13 points, 5 rebounds); Christian Wood (12 points, 10 rebounds); Kevin Porter Jr. (11 points, 5 assists); Dennis Schroder (11 points), and Josh Christopher (11 points).
But the story of the game was Houston’s relative inefficiency, particularly in the second half, versus the switching defense employed by Jason Kidd and his Mavericks. Rookie guard Jalen Green had his worst game in some time, scoring just 8 points in 32 minutes on 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%). Green missed all four of his 3-pointers, as well.
After leading by a point at halftime, the Rockets were outscored 58-38 in the second half. With Luka Doncic out with knee soreness, the Mavericks were led by starting guards Spencer Dinwiddie (26 points, 61.5% FG, 6 assists) and Jalen Brunson (28 points, 52.6% FG, 3 assists), who routinely collapsed Houston’s defense with hard drives to the bucket.
Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction. By winning, the Mavericks (45-28) moved into a tie for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and potential home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the young and rebuilding Rockets (18-55) built upon their lead for the No. 1 positioning slot entering the 2022 NBA draft lottery.
