Should Mavericks worry about losing Jalen Brunson if Knicks start clearing cap space?

There is no way the Dallas Mavericks let Jalen Brunson leave without a return

The Mavs are projected to be over the luxury tax before re-signing Brunson, so they cannot afford to let him walk away without getting a return. Dallas has just the taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum contracts to hand out in free agency, and they own their 2023 first-round pick to the Knicks from the original Kristaps Porzingis trade.

The Mavs will not have the assets to acquire a starting-caliber guard that can score 17-plus per game, which makes re-signing Brunson top priority. If decides to leave for New York, Dallas must figure out a sign-and-trade that lets them get something back in return. Those deals are complicated and limit what the Mavericks can receive. Still, something is better than nothing.

The Knicks are the only team competing with Dallas to sign JB. New York will struggle to create cap space and is unlikely to offer more than $25 million per season. The Mavericks can offer more money, an additional year, and a better situation than the Knicks.

The Dallas Mavericks will re-sign Jalen Brunson unless something drastically changes over the next eight days. Fans should not panic if the New York Knicks begin clearing cap space. JB is happy in Dallas, and the Mavs plan to pay him handsomely to remain a key piece of the roster next to Luka Doncic.