Re-Signing Jalen Brunson Is A Priority For The Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks’ offseason starts now. After an improbable and exciting season ended Thursday night. Dallas fell short in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors 120-110 and losing the series four games to one.

While the organization has a lot to celebrate after making its deepest playoff run since winning the NBA Championship in 2011, there’s still much work to be done. The most pressing issue the team faces now is how to retain Jalen Brunson and how much it will cost.

“I think it’s easy, it’s the top priority,” Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said. “We’ve got to figure that out. Obviously, we’re not in control of it, but he’s definitely a priority. We want to re-sign him. He knows that we want him back. He’s a big part of our future.”

Brunson was a standout this season. After starting the season coming off the bench, he moved into the starting rotation permanently by mid-December. In this role, he averaged 17 points, 4.1 rebounds and five assists–significant increases from his reserve numbers.

Dallas had multiple chances to sign Brunson to a four-year, $55 million contract extension before and during the 2021-22 season. The Mavericks didn’t engage in extension talks and let deadlines pass them by. Not getting a deal done might have been shortsighted.

Brunson is at the end of his rookie contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He made $1.8 million this season–a deal considering his evolution into a full-time starter–to cap off the four-year, $6.1 million deal he signed after getting drafted.

In free agency, especially after a marvelous playoff run that saw him average 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists, the price to keep him will potentially be much higher. Brunson could command upwards of $20 million per season.

“We can pay him more than anybody,” Mavericks governor Mark Cuban said. “I think he wants to stay and that’s most important. I think, again, J-Kidd has a big part to play in that. I think JB blossomed as a player as much as anybody on this squad.

“From where he was last year to how far he came this year, is a tribute to Jalen and how hard he worked and the support he got from his dad, his family, his girlfriend but also what he was able to learn from J-Kidd. I think he recognizes that, and I think he wants to stay.”

Brunson does credit head coach Jason Kidd as an important mentor along with his teammates. Other than that, he is playing it cool when it comes to contract talks–as he has done all season. He isn’t openly acting with any sense of urgency. He’s taking it all as it comes.

“My agent called me last night and said, ‘Hell of a season. We’ll talk in a couple of days. Unwind,’” Brunson said. “That’s the extent of what’s been said so far. I’m not really worried about it as of right now. I just kind of want to relax, reflect and I’ll go from there.”

While Brunson may be nonchalant about his forthcoming payday, his teammates understand what’s coming for him. Dorian Finney-Smith, who signed a four-year, $55.5 million contract extension with the Mavericks this season, summed up Brunson’s future best.

“JB about to get that bag,” he said.