New York Knicks viewed as strong favorites to sign Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson in free agency, sources say

The New York Knicks are considered strong favorites to sign Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson in free agency, sources told ESPN.

It's widely anticipated that Brunson will agree to a four-year deal in excess of $100 million to sign with the Knicks soon after free agency opens on Thursday evening, league sources said.

New York, which traded the No. 11 overall pick and point guard Kemba Walker on draft night, would need to make at least one additional move to create the necessary salary cap space to sign Brunson to such a contract. The Mavs could opt to pursue a sign-and-trade in an attempt to recoup assets with the expected departure of Brunson.

Brunson, 25, is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game, establishing himself as Dallas' No. 2 option behind All-NBA guard Luka Doncic, his 2018 draft classmate, after joining the starting lineup on a full-time basis in December.

Brunson helped lead the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 11 years, averaging 21.6 points per game during the playoffs, highlighted by 41- and 31-point performances in first-round victories over the Utah Jazz while Doncic was sidelined by a strained calf.

Mavs governor Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison ranked Brunson as the franchise's top offseason priority in the wake of the playoff run. Sources said the Mavs are willing to give Brunson a five-year contract — which only Dallas can offer due to owning his Bird rights — that is comparable to the four-year, $85 million deal guard Fred VanVleet signed with the Toronto Raptors in 2020.

Brunson, an unrestricted free agent because the fourth season of his rookie deal was nonguaranteed instead of a team option, declined