Jalen Brunson, Knicks Agrees To 4-Year, $104-Million Deal: Report

Jalen Brunson is a Knick.

The free agent point guard has agreed to a 4-year, $104-million deal, according to Yahoo Sports. Brunson canceled his free agent meeting with the Dallas Mavericks, who reportedly needed 5-year, $125-million commitment to land the former Villanova star.

The Knicks currently have about $33.9 million in cap space and could pay Brunson $26-27 million next season and still have about $7 million left in cap space, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported Wednesday during “NBA Today.”

The news comes on a huge first day of free agency in which Kevin Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets — with Phoenix and Miami reportedly his top targets — and Kyrie Irving is also expected to be on the move. Durant and Irving famously chose the Nets over the Knicks and other suitors in free agency in 2019.

The point guard-starved Knicks have made Brunson their No. 1 priority in free agency, even hiring his father, former NBA point guard Rick Brunson, as an assistant to Tom Thibodeau’s staff. Rick Brunson was President Leon’s Rose’s first player client when Rose was an agent. Sam Rose, Leon’s son, is Brunson’s agent.

The Knicks have had a revolving door of point guards over the years and acquiring Brunson, 25, means adding a young player they believe has a significant upside going forward.

A second-round draft pick in 2018, Brunson has improved every year in the NBA since he came out of Villanova in 2018 and would have the opportunity with the Knicks to shine as the dominant ball-handler as opposed to playing next to a perennial MVP candidate in Luka Doncic.

With Doncic on the court, Brunson averaged 14.8 points and 3.5 assists. With Doncic off the court, he averaged 22.1 points and 7.4 assists.

Overall, Brunson averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds last season.

“They’re chasing him down in free agency,” ESPN’s Matt Barnes said on air of the Knicks and Brunson. “It’s a very solid pickup. I don’t know if it moves the needle.

“I want to know what else the Knicks have up their sleeve. This is a very solid piece but I don’t know if this is a move that puts them in playoff position automatically.”

Brunson won the Naismith Trophy in 2018 when he led Villanova to its second NCAA championship under Jay Wright.

“The no. 1 quality that he brings is leadership,” ESPN’s Tim Legler said. “This is a guy that has been a leader on every team he’s been on. He puts the ball on his hip and he directs traffic

“His IQ and his verbal communication skills, this is a guy the Knicks are going to need. They haven’t really had that kind of leadership at that position in a long time.”