The New York Knicks’ mission in acquiring Jalen Brunson during free agency got a little bit easier after the front office decided to move Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks to the Pistons.
According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks are also returning Detroits 2023 second-round pick, 20224 second-round via Miami, and $6 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
The move has freed up 30M in salary cap space to offer a max contract to restricted free agent Jalen Brunson. According to Woj, the Knicks’ moves show that New York is confident that they can sign Brunson once free agency begins on Thursday.
The Knicks have cleared $30M in salary cap space to offer Dallas’ Jalen Brunson in the neighborhood of a max contract. The unloading of assets and contracts clearly shows the Knicks’ confidence that they can secure Brunson once free agency opens on Thursday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022
Brunson averaged a career-high 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the field and 37.3 hooting from distance. Brunson emerged as a significant threat in the playoffs, playing a major role in the Mavericks beating the Jazz in six games, scoring a career-high 41 points in Game 2.
Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game during Dallas’ run to the Western Conference Finals. They ultimately lost to the eventual-champion Golden State Warriors in five games.
