Leon Rose and Knicks are on the clock again. This time, he intends to bring in influential players.
A week after being knocked out of the first round of the NBA Draft that same night, the Mavericks are believed to be in the Knicks driver’s seat to unload free-agent point guard Jalen Branson.
But Brunson will meet with other teams before making a decision, Yahoo Sports reported. The 25-year-old former Villanova star will meet with the Knicks, Mavericks and Heat on Thursday at 6 p.m., when the free agency period begins.
Brunson has several ties to the Knicks – team president Rose is his former agent, Rose’s son Sam is his current agent, he has close ties to coach Tom Thibodeau and guard Derrick Rose, his father Rick was recently hired to join Thebody. The staff and he grew up in South New Jersey – and he’s been their focus for some time. They have approved a cap space worth more than 30 million to offer him a four-year contract worth more than $ 100 million. He traded veterans Kemba Walker, Nerlens Noel and Alec Berks with the No. 11 pick in the 2022 draft.
On Tuesday, several reports showed strong support for Knicks to sign Branson. Dallas, according to an ESPN report, was willing to offer Branson only a five-year contract at Ballpark, in 2020, with Raptors guard Fred Vanvalit signing a $ 85 million contract. Branson turned down a four-year, $ 55.5 million contract from Dallas. Trade deadline.
A source close to Branson believes that unless the Mavericks take a different stance on what they are willing to offer and raise money each year, he will be a nick.
“It would be hard to deny,” the source said.
Meanwhile, The Heat, Mavericks will have to agree to a sign-and-trade deal because they do not have enough cap space to pay Branson anywhere near what the other two franchises can afford. .
One idea is that the Knicks are paying more for Brunson, who became a full-time starter for the Mavericks in December. They had to move several draft picks (including the No. 11-total pick this year) and create enough cap space for experienced players to afford it. A former second-round pick, Brunson averaged 11.9 points, 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 24.7 minutes, shooting 37.3 percent from the 3-point range in his five-year NBA career.
“It will make them more competitive, but it doesn’t make them a serious competitor,” a league source said. “He is a very talented player. What does that Knicks change? Most likely they will go beyond play-in. Do they win a round? I do not know.
“I don’t think what they have now – he, Julius [Randall] and RJ [Barrett], your top three – are going to enter the top group of the Eastern Conference.”
Brunson is just 25 years old, and his best season so far is coming, in which he has a career-best performance in points (16.3), assists (4.8), rebounds (3.9) and minutes (31.9). Brunson was strong in the playoffs, posting 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists to help the Mavericks reach the Western Conference finals. Superstar Luca Donsic showed his potential when he was injured in the first round, winning the Jazz with 41 and 31 points respectively.
Former Nick and current Mavericks wing Reggie Bullock took to Twitter in support of Branson’s big salary.
“JB deserves everything that gets in his way, works really hard and deaf,” he tweeted with a bag and dollar sign emoji. “And a good person out of court.”
The Knicks still have 11 first-round picks over the next seven years and have managed to keep all their young players. Although they lost to Spurs All-Star guard DeJaunte Murray, the property allowed them a big deal, which the Hawks on Wednesday dealt for a package around three first-round picks.
If Branson actually chooses the Knicks, injuries to Derrick Rose and Walker will fill a decade-long void left by the point guard for the franchise that used the Berks last year.
Since 2009, the Knicks have had 12 different starting point guards on the opening night. Only Raymond Felton started in that stretch more than once in the openers in 2010 and 2012. The list includes travelers like Felton, Trey Burke, Ramon Sessions, Chris Duhon and Jose Calderon.
Brunson, at least on paper, will be the Knicks’ best floor general since Derek Harper returned in the mid-1990s. Branson is in his prime and is having his best season as a pro. He will join the franchise Lynchpin Barrett to form a young 1-2 backcourt pair that could take the Knicks back to the playoffs.
But first, the Knicks must sign it.
