Rumors: Knicks heavily pursuing Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson

The Dallas Mavericks front office is gearing up for the Feb. 10 trade deadline, and fans have already been treated to a plethora of rumors. Jalen Brunson and Dorian Finney-Smith are headed for unrestricted free agency in the offseason, and both are being pursued by rival teams. Brunson's breakout into an unquestioned starter has teams around the league lining up for his services.

The New York Post’s Marc Berman registered the Knicks' interest on Jan. 15. He reported they have already made a call to Dallas with a source believing New York is in hot pursuit.

This is far from the first time Brunson has been linked to the Knicks. Ever since Leon Rose took over in March 2020, there have been reports about New York trying to acquire JB. Rose was the agent for Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father, during his playing career, and the Knicks president is a fan of the younger Brunson’s game. Will the Mavericks trade him?

Rumors: Knicks want Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson before trade deadline

The Mavs have to balance trying to win this season with potentially losing Brunson for zero compensation in free agency this summer. He is averaging 16.0 points, 5.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. JB has forced his way into the starting lineup and has been the team’s second-best player this season.

There is no way the Mavericks trade Brunson if they believe he wants to re-sign in Dallas this offseason. There are luxury tax concerns, but having a 25-year-old point guard that continues to improve outweighs all of that. Where JB wants to play next season and beyond could factor into the team's decision on trades.

The New York Knicks are far from the only team pursuing Jalen Brunson in 2022. Can the Dallas Mavericks keep the talented guard? Stay tuned to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest on JB, plus all the juicy trade rumors that fans crave.