Rival NBA executives across the league believe New York Knicks are “all in” to try to sign guard Jalen Brunson in free agency this summer after their draft night trades with more anticipated moves. The Knicks also hired his father, Rick, as an assistant coach, and team president Leon Rose was his former agent.
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Brad Townsend †townbrad
Updated with response from Mavericks President Nico Harrison:
Mavs trades overshadowed by Knicks’ maneuvering and impending battle for Jalen Brunson dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… † 3:26 AM
Ian Begley †IanBegley
Speaking about the Knicks’ dealings and the implications of a Jalen Brunson signing with @CWilliamson44, who had the best Draft Night suit at Barclays on Thursday: pic.twitter.com/injeanXIlH † 12:22 pm
Marc Berman †NYPost_Berman
In short, more draw capital for a Donovan Mitchell-esque trade and to attach to a Nerlens Noel landfill. That gives them plenty of cap space for Jalen Brunson. All their main guys were gone by 11am. † 12:16 pm
Chris Mannix †SIChrisMannix
If the Knicks bring in Jalen Brunson – an up and coming 25-year-old point guard filling a decades-long need – tonight’s deals make sense. If they don’t, the decision to drop out of the first round of this draft could be a disaster. † 22:22
Brad Townsend †townbrad
Knicks are trying like crazy to free up cap space (estimated $16-18 million so far) for their chase of Jalen Brunson. I’ll definitely get Dallas’ attention, but I don’t feel like the Mavericks are concerned.
Yet. † 21:52
Josh Newman †Joshua_Newman
I’ve spent half my life watching Knicks buyers overpay players and make strange decisions with cap space.
I am emotionally ready to see this ending with Jalen Brunson being massively overpaid. † 21:49
Wes Goldberg †wcgoldberg
I like Jalen Brunson, but the Knicks traded out of the lottery for Jalen Brunson? † 21:48
James Edwards III †JLEdwardsIII
By giving DET Jalen Duren, with whom the organization has moved in the pre-draft process (and before), the Knicks now have the leeway to beat Jalen Brunson as Detroit took over Kemba’s contract. Pistons that can eat bad contracts because of Grant trading.
All win. † 21:41
Ryan McDonough †McDNBA
The Knicks move away from Kemba Walker’s $9.16 million salary and also remove late lottery pick salary from their cap sheet
It’s a good start for creating over $20 million in cap space – to chase Jalen Brunson and other top free agents – but they still have work to do – 21:38
Michael Pina †MichaelVPina
a max contract for jalen brunson is the big win on draft day – 9:15 pm
Kristian Winfield †crisscrossed
Knicks fans, yes, no or unsure against Jalen Brunson? † 8:54 PM
Fred Katz †FredKatz
First thought on the Pistons taking Jaden Ivey in fifth:
I wonder if this takes them out of the Jalen Brunson market as they could use all that cap space elsewhere and they’ve now paired up Ivey & Cunningham. † 8:30 IN THE EVENING
Jeff Goodman †GoodmanHoops
Not easy to find a “man” in the 2nd round. Here are some of the best from the past ten years:
Nikola Jokic, 41st (2014)
Draymond Green, 35th (2012)
Khris Middleton, 39th (2012)
Jalen Brunson, 33rd (2018)
Malcolm Brogdon, 36th (2016)
Dillon Brooks, 45th in (2017) – 16:51
StatMuse †status
The draft selection team from the entire second round:
PG — Malcolm Brogdon
SG — Jalen Brunson
SF — Khris Middleton
PF — Draymond Green
C — Nikola Jokic
How far would this team go in the play-offs? pic.twitter.com/1CwEB7i4kc † 14:31
More this storyline
Keep an eye out for the Knicks who may be forgoing Taj Gibson to create more cap space for a run on Brunson, League sources told HoopsHype. Gibson, a beloved player of Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, has an unguaranteed $5.2 million salary for next season. -through HoopsHype / June 24, 2022
Tim MacMahon: Mavs GM Nico Harrison said it was “expected” that the Knicks, which are known to have strong interest in Jalen Brunson, would take steps tonight to create cap space. On hoping to re-sign Brunson: “Until he tells us he doesn’t want to be here, we’re optimistic.” -through Twitter @espn_macmahon / June 24, 2022
Marc Steen: The Knicks think they need to make at least one more move to continue creating room for a salary cap… full steam ahead on their attempt to pry Jalen Brunson away from the Mavericks† -through Twitter @TheSteinLine / June 23, 2022