Knicks Rumors: Team could trade for Jalen Brunson in offseason

With all the rumors about the Knicks going “big game hunting” for a superstar point guard like Ben Simmons or Damian Lillard, they may take a stab at Jalen Brunson instead.

Marc Berman of the NY Post released an article over the weekend discussing several different avenues the Knicks can take to solve their point guard issue.

Amongst the plethora of options, one that stuck out to me was the idea of prying away ex-Villanova guard, Jalen Brunson out from the Mavericks’ possession.

Should the Knicks explore a trade for Jalen Brunson in the offseason?

Berman said:

"Let’s get it out of the way: Knicks president Leon Rose loves the son of his first client, ex-Knick Rick Brunson.Rose thinks the younger Brunson is a legitimate starting, playmaking point guard. Now it’s up to Dallas’ new coach, Jason Kidd, to decide whether Brunson, a second-round pick out of Villanova, is the guy to build around and lock in long-term.The Mavericks will exercise his team option for next season and can offer him an extension. If Kidd lowballs him, Brunson will decline and the Mavericks will be forced to trade him or risk losing Brunson to 2022 free agency.The Knicks have Brunson on their radar. Thibodeau is a big fan of the lefty quarterback. Rick Brunson was on all of Thibodeau’s prior coaching staffs."

This isn’t the first mention of Brunson’s name by Berman or Daily Knicks, as we’ve both written about his potential acquisition in the past.

Brunson had himself a season this year, coming off the bench and sometimes playing alongside Luka Doncic.

In a reserve role, Brunson put up 12.6 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field and almost 41% from 3-point land.

His per 36 numbers would equate to over 18 points and about 5 assists per game…those are starting-caliber numbers if you ask me.

Both Leon Rose and Tom Thibodeau’s relationship with Jalen’s father Rick cannot be looked past…these things hold water in the NBA and all professional sports.

Inside connections make magic happen, that’s why Leon Rose was hired to begin with.

Depending on what the Knicks would have to give up in the swap, I’d be happy with a Jalen Brunson consolation prize this summer.

I think he fits that mold of a Thibs point guard in that he’s aggressive when driving, shoots the 3-ball well, and not your prototypical floor general but can get you 4-5 assists per night when given the opportunity.

If the Knicks miss out on acquiring Dame, my personal second favorite idea would be to go after Brunson.