NY Knicks Rumors: What could a trade for Jalen Brunson look like?

I recently wrote an article discussing the rumor that Jalen Brunson could very well be on the NY Knicks‘ radar some time in the near future.

Whether there’s a deal made during this offseason, at next season’s trade deadline, or if he’s signed as a free agent in the summer of 2022, Brunson will remain a target of Leon Rose’s.

Drafted in 2018, just a few spots of our very own Mitchell Robinson, Jalen Brunson has been worth his weight in gold considering he was drafted in the early 2nd round.

The former Villanova standout was viewed as a high-floor but low-ceiling prospect coming out of his Junior year of college.

Should the Knicks target Jalen Brunson via trade this offseason?

He has far surpassed all expectations and has quickly become one of the 4 or 5 best players on the Mavericks (that’s if you still think the Latvian tree person is still any good at basketball…then Brunson is easily top 3).

So why would Dallas let him go?

Well, Marc Berman of the NY Post had this to say regarding Brunson and his many ties to the people within the Knicks organization:

"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."

Similar to the Knicks’ situation with Mitchell Robinson, the clock is ticking for the Mavericks’ front office in that they can lose Brunson for nothing by next summer if they can’t come to an agreement for an extension.

Luka Doncic has been unhappy with the Mavericks as of late and they need to surround him with a more competent team…ideally get another star in there.

If Dallas wants to bring back Tim Hardaway Jr and can’t find a way to get off of Porzingis’ contract, there’s no way they’re going to have the money to re-sign Brunson for what he’s worth.

The clock is ticking for Dallas and they have to start making moves now to keep Luka happy.

Anywho, here’s a trade I came up with:

The most interesting little wrinkle in this whole deal is that the Mavs get back their 2023 1st round pick.

I could totally be wrong here but I believe that should free up their 2022 1st round pick to be eligible for a trade.

They may need that 2022 pick to get off of Kristaps Porzingis’ contract so it could come in handy.

Otherwise, if they don’t get their 2023 pick back, they won’t be able to give up a 1st round pick in a trade until 2025.

This would give Dallas the ability to bring back Tim Hardaway Jr and have enough cap space available to sign a premier free agent in the offseason.

The Knicks on the other hand could have very well stolen their point guard of the next 10+ years for mere peanuts if Brunson can flourish in more of an expanded role in New York.