I’ve been asked repeatedly since my Friday piece on The Jalen Brunson Sweepstakes to handicap which team is in the lead to sign the coveted point guard in free agency. That is not yet accurate. The Knicks have no doubt positioned themselves as a very real threat to the Mavericks, but presumably only Brunson and his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, know exactly where things stand. The closest thing to certainty on the Brunson front right now, as Thursday’s 6:00 p.m. ET clock approaches for the actual start of the free agency, is that Detroit and Indiana are no longer listed as potential destinations.†
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Tommy Bear †TommyBear
This is why Tyus Jones, not Jalen Brunson, should be the New York #Knicks Number 1 goal when free agency starts next week:
tommybeer.substack.com/p/what-if-the-… † 12:33 pm
Tim Reynolds †By TimReynolds
Many, many things confuse me these days, and at the top of the list is this: Jalen Brunson is a really good player, but when did he become the Absolute Must Have For The Knicks or else will they be bad forever? † 12:30 pm
Chuck Cooperstein †coopmavs
I don’t know Jalen Brunson’s final decision, but if he stays with the Mavericks, I’m going to be laughing pretty hard at the national (mainly New York-based) media that, @NBA Draft, speaking as if his departure to the Knicks is a fait accompli – 11:44 am
Steve Popper †Steve Popper
NBA Sunday Insider: Silver liner for Knicks after NBA Draft? Cap space to chase Jalen Brunson; Design winners and losers; Plus Knicks past the first round
newsday.com/sports/column… through @Newsday † 8:16 am
Steve Popper †Steve Popper
NBA Sunday Insider: Silver liner for Knicks after NBA Draft? Cap space to chase Jalen Brunson; Design winners and losers; and the Knicks past the first round newsday.com/sports/column… through @Newsday † 6:49 PM
Marc Stein †TheSteinLine
Massive week looms in the NBA. Working on nailing a Sunday night @SpotifyLive session to set everything up.
In the meantime… here’s yesterday’s post-draft piece on The Jalen Brunson Sweepstakes: marcstein.substack.com/p/brunson-swee…
Coaching and free agency latest:- 4.18 pm
Fred Katz †FredKatz
For what it’s worth, trading Reddish without bringing back any paychecks would put the Knicks about $22 million under the cap. That’s a legitimate starting salary for Jalen Brunson, but I’m not sure it’s a winning salary. They may need to free up more space. † 12:47 pm
Michael Scott †MikeAScotto
Story: The Knicks could trade Cam Reddish to create more cap space for a run at Jalen Brunson. When New York tried to trade for Piston’s guard Jaden Ivey, Reddish was part of the proposal, sources said. Taj Gibson can also be waived. More @Jorge Sierra† hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumo… † 12:12
Steve Popper †Steve Popper
While Leon Rose is happy with financial flexibility, the Knicks seem ready. Jalen Brunson’s ties to Knicks could be a deal-maker newsday.com/sports/basketb… through @Newsday † 8:32 am
Sam Quinn †SamQuinnCBS
If the Mavs think they are losing Jalen Brunson to the Knicks, I think they should get the Pacers+Knicks involved in a 3-way deal to bring in Malcolm Brogdon.
The Knicks must use another FRP to free up space for Brunson. If you’re Dallas, why not do S&T and forward that choice to Indy? † 22:31
Keith Smith †Keith Smith NBA
Something to keep an eye on in the coming days:
The Dallas Mavericks have a $10.8 million Traded Player Exception expiring June 27 from trading Josh Richardson to Boston last year.
It would raise the tax bill (will get bigger if Jalen Brunson signs again), but it’s available. † 7:54 PM
Jake Fischer †JakeLFischer
The full episode of ‘Please Don’t Aggregate This’ with the *cough* analysis @SethPartnow is live on @getcallin†
Conversation about Jalen Brunson, Dejounte Murray, nighttime storytelling, what Indiana and Atlanta have on the trading table, and more:
callin.com/link/bNkqwKxlgH † 18:47
Eddie Sefko †ESefko
Which draft night means for Jalen Brunson, along with other takeaways of a strong night for the Mavericks.
mavs.com/2022-draft-tak… † 17:27
Steve Popper †Steve Popper
Knicks moves cleared space – now, the future is days away, or better yet. Jalen Brunson’s ties to Knicks could be a deal-maker newsday.com/sports/basketb… through @Newsday † 4:24 PM
Tony Mejia †MejiaDinero
Kings & Knicks screwed up again in the NBA Draft. I get NYK clearing cap space for its chase of Jalen Brunson, but Sacramento selecting someone above Jaden Ivey at number 4 was stupid. He didn’t want to be there, but you take the trump and make him a better booty than Keegan Murray – 15:58
Marc Stein †TheSteinLine
The Jalen Brunson Sweepstakes just got real. My in-depth story of the great momentum New York is building in its effort to take Brunson away from Dallas: marcstein.substack.com/p/brunson-swee… † 14:57
Michael Scott †MikeAScotto
Story: A look at potential sign-and-trade options for Deandre Ayton with the Pistons, Hawks, Pacers, and Spurs. Plus, reporting on who could move the Knicks to free up cap space to chase Jalen Brunson, Wizards’ interest in Tyus Jones, and more @Jorge Sierra† hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumo… † 13.27 o’clock
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
Tim MacMahon †espn_macmahon
Mavs GM Nico Harrison said it was “expected” that the Knicks, 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.” † 3:12 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
More this storyline
without doing anything, the Pacers have enough cap space to compete in the Brunson sweepstakes. If Brunson were seriously interested in joining the Pacers and reuniting with head coach Rick Carlisle, they could turn it into a sign-and-trade where they could potentially get an incentive to allow Dallas to make an exception. -through HoopsHype / June 26, 2022
Jake Fischer on Jalen Brunson: The Knicks bid will almost certainly be four (years), $100 (million). And, at least, and I know people around the week preparing for his offer to eventually reach $110 (million)† -through Spotify / June 25, 2022
The New York Knicks are gaining momentum in their bid to take Jalen Brunson away from the Dallas Mavericks in free agency, league sources say. -through marcstein.substack.com / June 24, 2022