The brand new enticing NBA trade rumors of today is that the New York Knicks have cleared $30 million in salary cap space to offer Dallas’ Jalen Brunson in the neighborhood of a max contract. The Knicks’ confidence in their ability to get Brunson once free agency starts on Thursday is evident from the unloading of assets and contracts.
Signing the 25-year-old with a $30 million contract would have cost the Mavericks a total of $130 million in salary in one season for Brunson alone. The maximum contract the Knicks can give Jalen is four years and $131 million.
When free agency opens on Thursday, the New York Knicks are expected to present Jalen Brunson a four-year offer in the vicinity of $110 million, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 29, 2022
Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks’ trades to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday cleared $19 million in payroll, which is what their $30 million salary cap is based on. The Knicks and Pistons have reached an agreement on a deal twice in less than a week. Last Thursday, the Knicks also traded point guard Kemba Walker to the Pistons in order to free up an additional $9 million.
The Knicks are trading center Nerlens Noel and guard Alec Burks to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN. The Knicks will unload $19M more in salary, clearing the way for cap space to try and sign free agent guard Jalen Brunson.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022
According to reports, the Pistons have different plans for Noel and Burks than they have for Walker. The Pistons will be keen to make use of their most recent signings, even though Walker is apparently expected to be bought out.
The 6-foot-1 rising star had a great run with the Mavs. Brunson averaged 16.3 points on 50.2 percent shooting, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in his fourth NBA season. The Mavericks, who picked him with the No. 33 overall choice in the 2018 draft, have been his team for his entire NBA career. If Brunson accepts the Knicks’ offer, then the fans will be eager to see if he can deliver and fulfill their expectations.
