Article author:
Reuters
Knicks invited free agent Jalen Brunson to New York without a fourth-year point guard, giving the Dallas Mavericks the opportunity to hold him.
Branson has signed a four-year, $ 104 million contract with Knicks.
Earlier Thursday, reports showed that Branson allowed Dallas to negotiate and call him about his future after meeting the Miami Heat in New York.
Branson, who was selected from Villanova in the second round in 2018, averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game in Dallas from 2021 to 22. He averaged 21.6 points and 4.6 rebounds after the season, leaving star Luka Doncic to emerge as the top scorer in the first round series with Utah Jazz.
Knicks reportedly has enough space to offer Branson a $ 110 million deal. Branson was able to receive an additional five-year offer from the Mavericks, who played all 277 games in his career.
New York has traded off Kemba Walker, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel to free up cap space to add Branson. ESPN also reported that Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon would be the target of Knicks if Branson signed elsewhere.
Three picks after the Mavericks chose Branson, Knicks drafted the high school center Mitchell Robinson in 2018.
– Field-level media
