Jalen Brunson has completely revived Knicks basketball, exceeding every single expectation thrown his way, yet he almost never put on the orange and blue. Dallas, in an act of pure hubris, let him walk away for pennies on the dollar, setting off a massive domino effect that the league is still talking about. This wasn’t some minor mishap, folks, this was a scarily realistic scenario that truly changed everything for both franchises.
Dallas Said No, Not Once But Twice
Think about this: Brunson, during his third season in Dallas, had his agents at CAA approach the Mavericks’ brass to talk extension. The offer on the table? A more than reasonable four years and $55 million. This dude was coming off finishing fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting! He had clear upward mobility, everyone could see it. What did Dallas do? They said NO. Can you believe it? The blindness there was absolutely nonsensical.
A few months later, Brunson had started what turned into a full-on breakout campaign. His agents went back to the Mavs with the same exact framework, the same $55 million deal. And again, Dallas said NO. It’s almost unbelievable, right? Talk about misreading the room, or more accurately, misreading their own player.
The Offer That Was Too Late
Brunson just kept grinding, kept improving. After the trade deadline had passed, the Mavericks suddenly woke up and approached him about that same four-year, $55 million deal. But by then, the ship had sailed, sunk, and been salvaged by another team. He had completely outgrown that offer and was barreling straight toward free agency. Four months later, he landed in New York on a four-year, $104 million pact. That’s a huge difference, and it just shows you how badly Dallas misplayed their hand.
The source even points out that the hubris of their front office later led to “one of the worst trades in NBA history.” It’s a pattern, man, and it cost them a legitimate star.
What Could Have Been For Dallas
Imagine if Dallas had actually realized what they had with Brunson, especially during that in-season extension window. They could have taken a guy the Knicks were clearly eyeing off the market. That $55 million deal would have been more than reasonable for their cap structure, whether he continued as a sixth man or stepped up as a starter next to Luka Doncic. Sure, the fit might have been tricky sometimes because both players had some defensive shortcomings, but you figure that out!
The Knicks got a leader who has completely changed their trajectory, and Dallas missed out on retaining a huge talent for a steal of a price. This isn’t just a small “what if”; this is possibly the biggest domino effect of them all. Dallas played themselves, and New York reaped the rewards. It’s wild to think about what happens when a front office gets so stuck in its own way, isn’t it?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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