Did the Mavericks make the right move with Jalen Brunson at the trade deadline?

Why did the Dallas Mavericks decide to keep Jalen Brunson?

The Mavs took a short-term step backward by dealing Kristaps Porzingis, but they had no plans of going into a full teardown. Luka Doncic is one of the five best players in the NBA, and he is just starting to play his best basketball. The Mavericks have a chance to win their first playoff series since 2011 with Luka leading their charge.

Dallas views Brunson as a key piece of their future. They believe he will re-sign in the offseason, and keep improving. JB is averaging 16.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game this season, and he has increased his production every year.

The Mavericks know Brunson is searching for a four-year deal worth $80 million in free agency, and they are willing to pay the price to keep him in Dallas. The front office will be hoping for a bit of a hometown discount to improve their roster around Doncic and Brunson.

A team-friendly deal could also be the key to the Mavs acquiring a second star. Teams will remain interested in Brunson as long as he stays on a reasonable contract. It is why Dallas had no hesitation in agreeing to an extension with Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Dallas Mavericks decided to keep Jalen Brunson at the trade deadline, but there is still work to do as he heads into free agency this summer.