Dallas Mavericks Prepared To Lose Rising Point Guard To New York Knicks

The NBA offseason is in full swing after the 2022 NBA Finals, and the 29 teams who failed to win the title are off to find answers via free agency and the trade market as they look to complete their respective goals.

This includes the Western Conference finalists Dallas Mavericks and a struggling New York Knicks squad who are looking to find their way back to relevancy.

Rumors abounded as soon as the season ended of the Knicks looking to poach free agent point guard Jalen Brunson from the Mavericks, and it very well could be a possibility once the market opens on July 1.

ESPN’s Tim McMahon reported that front offices are expecting Brunson to sign a four-year deal worth $100 million with the Knicks, but there could be an obstacle towards those goals.

“It remains to be seen how New York will clear the rest of the necessary cap space and whether the Mavs can work a sign-and-trade to recoup assets,” McMahon wrote.

ESPN insider Bobby Marks shared his two cents on how the Knicks can clear the cap space needed to retain Mitchell Robinson and sign Brunson.

“Waive the $5.1M non-guaranteed of Taj Gibson. Trade either Nerlens Noel or Alec Burks. That would get NYK to $25M in a room and still have the ability to sign free agent Mitchell Robinson,” the pundit stated.

Meanwhile, trade expert Adrian Wojnarowski also announced that the Knicks have moved Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks plus two future second-round picks and cash to the Detroit Pistons as they look to get the Brunson deal.

Getting Brunson would be a massive step in the right direction for a Knicks franchise that fell below expectations after a surprisingly successful 2020-21 season where they finished fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Julius Randle also won the league’s Most Improved Player award at that time, but seemingly regressed in the 2021-22 season after scoring fewer points per game with lesser efficiency than the previous season.

Add in the fact that the Knicks do not have a credible point guard on the roster other than sophomore Immanuel Quickley, and the Brunson move makes even more sense.

Brunson had his breakout year this season after averaging 16.3 points on 50.2% field goal shooting while also putting up 4.8 assists and 0.8 steals in 31.9 minutes on the floor.

The Knicks stealing away Brunson from the Mavericks puts Dallas in a precarious position this offseason as they will have to search the market for a suitable replacement.

Dallas could try for one of Ricky Rubio, Aaron Holiday, Tyus Jones or someone else entirely among the free agents in this year’s group.

With the Knicks in a prime position to get the point guard that they have been targeting, a resurgence could very well be in play for them in the coming season.