Former Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson expected to stay with the franchise for a long time, he revealed on JJ Redick’s The Old Man & The Three podcast (Twitter link). Instead, Brunson wound up signing with the Knicks this month, inking a four-year, $104MM deal.
“I loved my time in Dallas. I thought I was going to be in Dallas for a long time,” Brunson said. “I started having a monster season. I went to them before they officially offered it to me, and by the end, it was kind of too late.”
As has been previously reported, Brunson was interested early in the 2021/22 season in the same four-year, $56MM extension Dorian Finney-Smith eventually signed, but by the time the Mavericks offered it after the trade deadline, Brunson had outperformed it.
“The business came knocking at the door, and so it was time to at least look [in free agency]. I had to do my due diligence and look to see what was out there.”
Brunson is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 16.3 points per game. He was a secondary creator alongside Luka Doncic, also averaging 4.8 assists and shooting an efficient 50%.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith is aiming to be more of a vocal leader next season, as relayed by Dwain Price of Mavs.com. Finney-Smith is eyeing a ring with Dallas, who’s expected to compete for a title after losing in the Conference Finals 4-1 to Golden State last season. The Mavericks acquired Christian Wood and have a top-tier offense, but they’ll need to give a high-level defensive effort to contend. They ranked seventh in defensive rating (109.1) and 10th in defensive rebound percentage (73.3%) last season.
- Kelly Iko of The Athletic examines several Rockets topics in his mailbag, including next summer’s free agency, new assistant coaches and more. Houston is coming off a 20-62 season and is continuing a full-scale rebuild. The team has a young nucleus of Kevin Porter Jr. (22), Jalen Green (20), Jabari Smith Jr. (19) and others to build around. Houston also recently added Lionel Hollins, Mike Batiste and Mahmoud Abdelfattah to its coaching staff.
- Ethan Fuller of BasketballNews.com interviews Blake Wesley, who was drafted No. 25 overall by the Spurs last month. Wesley appears ready to sharpen his point guard skills. “I see myself as a point guard, so going into the NBA I feel I’m gonna be a point guard,” Wesley said. “A big key to the Spurs is [being] 6-foot-5, long [and] athletic, so to get guys open is gonna be good for me. I’m gonna get to the paint and find guys.”
Rockets traded away their own draft picks then started full rebuild
Rockets are not the good model for Knicks and Lakers
Spurs had been a title contender for 15 consecutive years
What does this have to do with the article besides the Mavs were contenders the same length of time as the Spurs. Unfortunately, that was a decade ago and is soon forgotten.
Spurs are Lakers and Knicks model
Jazz demand 6 first round picks from Knicks
Pacers wanted all the Lakers first round picks
Seems like another Houston bashing comment. Yes Rockets traded their future for a win now with Harden Westbrook & wood. But that collapsed in record time.
That being said they amassed an excessive haul of picks from a win now team with 3 volatile stars as opposed to a couple perineal all stars in Lavert and Allen(the latter they should’ve kept) plus more firsts along the road and started a two(soon to be three) year tank.
If we’re being honest, any team looking to rebuild after their predecessor Morey sold the farm should take notes on what Stone has done. Green, Sengun and Christopher were all great picks, Smith and Eason were good picks. Coupled with good pick ups on Tate, KPJ, Tyty, Matthews Garuba KJ Martin & Garuba. Not to mention the copious amount of picks they still have, and the coming up cap space coming in 23. I’d say they have plenty of valuable assets and young talent to make moves when their future stars are ready. One of the best strategic rebuild for a few years,
I like how you frame the Rockets as having a strategic rebuild. It’s nothing more than Fertitta being an El Cheapo owner who doesn’t want to pay players. I’d imagine this trend of having one of lowest salary caps continues at least until he transitions out of the failing restaurant business that his empire was founded on.
Lol. What? Why spend when you are rebuilding?
Same owner who was paying 2 of the highest salaries in the league with Harden & Westbrook along with a lot of other good salaries.
Im not arguing he’s cheaper than the likes of GS but if he was willing to keep a team with 80m+ on two players plus 3 other players over 10m each I think that was enough to build a contender.
It’s like when the Astros were rebuilding and not spending. People were complaining about it around Houston. Makes no sense to spend when you are rebuilding. I expect him to do the same thing the Astros owner did when they start winning – spend while winning.
Didn’t the Lakers trade away all their first rounders for years to come?
The number 1 pick this year is Golden. I think the Spurs are smart to see if they can get it. It will be sad to see them the worse team in the league however!
Wood was never a good fit for Rockets. He wanted a max contract. And frankly hasn’t done anything to deserve it. Imo I stay away from players like that.
He’s now with a team that could content. If he puts up like he talks. So it can benefit the Mavs. Or he can be another KP. All talk and no substance.
Brunson grew up a Knicks fan. Why wouldn’t he come to MSG. Where he balled out with Villanova. He understands what it means to play here. So why wouldn’t he jump at chance to help bring the team back to respectability. It’s a no brainer. Silver works in NYC. He knows this too well. So all this tampering talk. Is just noise. And media attention for the NBA office. Get over yourselves.
Jazz receive:
• Malik Beasley …. rotation player
• Patrick Beverley …. rotation player, not for every team (33 yrs old)
• Leandro Bolmaro …. still proving he belongs in NBA
• Walker Kessler (No. 22 pick in 2022 Draft)
has a future as a rotation Center.
• Jarred Vanderbilt …. has a chance to be a solid rotation player
• 2023 first-round pick …. late pick
• 2025 first-round pick …. late pick
• 2026 pick swap ….. late pick will be no swap.
• 2027 first-round pick …. could pay off
• 2029 first-round pick …. could pay off
Jazz did not receive ONE player with a big time future. Not One.
It’s all gambled on picks. And you can use picks to move up draft. So it can pay off.
This trade clearly shows the Jazz want to rebuild. It’s a full rebuild in Utah. And an all out tank for a top 3 pick next yr. In a deep draft. And a shot at a Center with a better future than Rudy. (Victor Wembanyama).
So for Mitchell. They want Picks and young talent. They don’t want to win next yr. They want a shot at the #1 pick. It’s why Danny is asking for so many picks from Knicks.