Knicks move firmly into Brunson lead
After New York's draft night maneuvering and further distressing signals, I'm told Dallas is increasingly resigned to losing its second-best player when free agency officially opens Thursday
The New York Knicks offer Jalen Brunson an enticing opportunity to run his own team. They play in a conference that potentially offers Brunson a more favorable path to All-Star status. The Knicks can also put Brunson alongside both his father (new Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson) and virtual second father (Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose) every day.
It's a combination of lures that, when packaged with a forthcoming four-year contract offer from the Knicks expected to reach (or even cross) the $100 million threshold, has the Dallas Mavericks resigned to losing Brunson in free agency.
Actual negotiations aren't supposed to start until after 6 PM ET on Thursday evening, but league sources say there was a growing sense of surrender in Dallas on Tuesday to the idea that Brunson indeed wants all those opportunities in New York — essentially that he wants to be a Knick.
The Knicks, therefore, will be regarded as massive favorites to reach a verbal agreement with Brunson later this week after NBA free agency officially begins.
While only Dallas can offer a five-year contract and still has the ability to put a richer offer on the table than New York, sources indicate …
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