Immediately following the Mavericks` 2021-22 season conclusion, Mark Cuban suggested Jalen Brunson`s re-signing was guaranteed. During a Bally Sports Southwest interview, he mentioned “obviously after re-signing JB” while discussing future plans. Throughout the playoffs, as Brunson`s market value increased, Cuban consistently reminded reporters of the Mavericks` Bird rights, allowing them to exceed the salary cap, offer larger raises, and a longer contract than competitors.
Cuban emphasized, “We can offer him more than anyone. I believe he wants to remain, which is paramount.”
Brunson was surprised by Cuban`s remarks on social media. He`d avoided contract talks all season, despite Coach Jason Kidd`s public aim to “get Brunson paid.” Brunson`s performance in Luka Dončić`s absence during the playoffs elevated his value, proving his importance as the second option. He anticipated a significant contract offer from Cuban to match his words, rewarding the player Dallas had previously considered trading.
Dorian Finney-Smith declared, “JB`s about to get that bag,” to the media. Brunson remained focused on his team`s achievements, deferring free agency discussions.
Jalen`s father, Rick Brunson, previously joked about his son`s media approach, attributing it to Villanova coach Jay Wright`s influence. He described Jalen`s interviews as consistently delivering standard, pre-programmed answers, a trait learned from Villanova rather than inherited from him.
Rick Brunson, a former NBA player, spoke candidly after a playoff win against the Jazz. Despite Jalen`s silence on free agency, Rick aimed to share their perspective. He asserted, “We need to determine Dallas`s true interest, beyond words. No discounts. Actions speak louder than words.”
The previous summer, the Brunsons felt undervalued. Jalen, after finishing fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting, was eligible for a rookie extension worth up to $55.5 million. This seemed reasonable for a key playoff contributor with a strong team rapport. The Brunsons expected the offer and planned to accept, valuing contract security his father lacked. They even considered Dallas real estate, eager for Jalen to have a yard for his dog.
During their Jamaica vacation, they discussed the expected extension. They were prepared to accept slightly below the maximum, around $50 million. Rick Brunson later joked, “I offered them a discount!”
However, the Mavericks, through Brunson`s agents, delayed commitment. Rick Brunson expressed frustration, stating the delay “f—ed my whole vacation up.”
Dallas cited organizational changes – a new coach and GM – needing roster evaluation time. They proposed waiting until training camp. Even then, no extension was offered.
Several factors influenced Dallas`s hesitation. Brunson could be trade bait for a Dončić co-star, but an extension would limit trade options. Cuban was also wary of luxury tax implications, intensified by Dončić`s upcoming supermax contract. Initially, Cuban underestimated Brunson`s free agency market, believing the mid-level exception, $45.1 million over four years, was his ceiling.
Rick Brunson declared no in-season contract talks without a pre-season extension offer. However, the Brunsons revisited the Mavericks in January, after Brunson`s strong performance in Dončić`s absence. They indicated he would then accept the extension.
“They ignored it,” Rick Brunson stated. “Their prerogative. Business decisions are theirs to make.”
Speculation grew about Brunson joining the Knicks, despite their cap space limitations. Brunson was an unrestricted free agent due to a contract oversight by Donnie Nelson and Cuban, making his final year non-guaranteed instead of a team option. Leon Rose, Brunson`s godfather and former agent, now led the Knicks.
The Brunsons` Knicks ties were deep. Coach Tom Thibodeau knew Jalen since birth, with a long history with Rick dating back to high school. Thibodeau and Rick`s paths crossed in New York and Houston, and Thibodeau later hired Rick as an assistant in Chicago and Minnesota. Agent Sam Rose is Leon`s son and Brunson`s lifelong friend.
GM Nico Harrison texted Cuban in February, “This New York thing is too tied to his family.”
Despite Knicks` interest, Dallas didn`t trade Brunson by the deadline. They considered offloading Tim Hardaway Jr.`s $75 million contract to create extension space. Brunson`s agents indicated a willingness to accept a five-year, $87 million deal. Dallas declined, instead offering the original four-year, $55.5 million extension, which Finney-Smith accepted but Brunson rejected, feeling he`d exceeded that value.
“Thirty-second conversation,” Rick Brunson described the rejected offer. “Essentially, `You`re not interested anymore, right?` I just laughed.”
Brunson continued to improve, showcasing his leadership during a three-game stretch against the Jazz in the playoffs. He was comfortable as Dončić`s sidekick, a role earned after years of competition for minutes with other guards Dallas acquired.
Dallas faced challenges finding a co-star for Dončić, having limited trade assets and Dončić`s ball-dominance potentially deterring stars. Brunson, a low-maintenance player comfortable in Dončić`s shadow, might have been the solution.
Brunson acknowledged the challenge: “Ego is the main thing. When someone dominates the ball, others can get frustrated. I`ve learned to play without rhythm. I don`t need it.”
He added, “It`s Luka Dončić. That won`t change. I`ve adapted to fit that mold, to be successful in my role. My dad says it`s how it is. Some players have that aura. It revolves around them, rightfully so. I`ve learned to be effective within that.”
Rick Brunson, acknowledging his son`s growth, considered Jalen`s potential leading his own offense. “Dallas is a great fit, but my son wants what Luka has. Everyone does. That feeling of, `I can do this too.` The grass isn`t always greener, but we`ll weigh options this summer.”
A week after the season, Rick Brunson joined the Knicks as an assistant coach. Jalen Brunson noted “crickets” from the Mavericks leading up to free agency, despite Cuban`s public confidence. On draft night, the Knicks cleared cap space, signaling their Brunson pursuit.
Harrison admitted, “We weren`t shocked by the Knicks` moves. Until he says otherwise, we`re optimistic. We have to be.”
Cuban considered “Fred VanVleet money,” around $105 million over five years, a fair offer, referencing VanVleet`s salary. He mirrored his past approach with Steve Nash, using Mike Bibby`s contract as a benchmark before Nash left for Phoenix.
The Knicks further cleared payroll, eliminating sign-and-trade leverage for Dallas. Reports indicated the Knicks were prepared to offer Brunson over $100 million for four years.
The Mavericks scheduled a meeting with Brunson in New York, with teammates and front office present. The Brunsons anticipated a max offer from Cuban to prevent losing Brunson. Dallas could offer up to $175.5 million over five years.
Rick Brunson predicted, “[Cuban] will offer a max deal and ask, `What will you do?`”
Jalen Brunson reportedly responded, “I`m taking it.”
Rick Brunson agreed, “Gotta do it!”
Dallas, with tax advantages, could have matched the Knicks` annual salary, forcing a difficult choice. However, Cuban and the Mavericks didn`t increase their offer. The meeting was canceled, with conflicting accounts of who initiated it. (Cuban later acknowledged the Mavericks canceled it during a podcast with Brunson.)
Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million Knicks deal that night, almost doubling the previous summer`s extension offer, as he noted to his father in Jamaica post-signing.
Rick Brunson admitted his anticipation of leaving Dallas, feeling his son was repeatedly disrespected. “But I knew I had to convince him, `You`re better than this. You can lead your own team.`”
He concluded, “If Dallas matched or exceeded the Knicks` offer, I`m unsure if he`d have left. They should have made it a hard decision. They didn`t. They made it easy.”
Brunson`s Knicks contract proved a bargain, as he quickly became a star, revitalizing the franchise.
Months later, Cuban publicly blamed Rick Brunson for negotiation interference. Rick Brunson dismissed the criticism, given his son`s improved contract and role. “Yeah, I`m the f—ing father. You protect your kids and tell them the truth.”
Cuban`s narrative shifted to claiming ignorance of the Knicks` offer, despite public knowledge. This contributed to the NBA fining the Knicks for tampering, resulting in a second-round pick penalty.
Cuban insisted, “We didn`t know the bid. They never gave us a number. Knowing now, I`d have paid it, but he wouldn`t have come anyway. It wasn`t about money.”
Cuban also disputed the Brunsons` claim of offering the extension in January, even showing early February texts to reporters, surprising GM Harrison. When questioned about January texts, Cuban reacted angrily.
“Bulls—! That`s f—ing bulls—, Tim!” Cuban retorted. “And you are a moron if you listened to those motherf—ers.”
