A few notes on the Knicks as we get closer to free agency on June 30.
Do the Knicks have the cap space for Brunson?
Jalen Brunson remains a top target for New York entering free agency. The Dallas Mavericks' lead guard will be an unrestricted free agent on June 30.
The Knicks don’t currently have the cap space to make a competitive offer to Brunson.
New York used some of its draft assets to create cap space on draft night when the club traded Kemba Walker to the Detroit Pistons.
Currently, the Knicks have roughly $12 million in cap space. If the club waives veteran big man Taj Gibson, the number creeps up to roughly $17 million. If the Knicks do waive Gibson, I’d expect them to give strong consideration to re-signing him later in the offseason.
Trade market for Burks and Noel
The Knicks can get to roughly $25 million if they trade Alec Burks or Nerlens Noel if they don’t take back any salary.
Several teams, including the Boston Celtics, have a degree of interest in trading for Burks, per sources.
The Mavericks can offer Brunson an extra year and more money than the Knicks. Dallas can offer Brunson a max deal of five years and $175 million.
The Knicks can offer Brunson a max deal of four years and $131 million (that deal would start at $30.5 million).
There could be other suitors for Brunson besides Dallas and New York. Detroit, once viewed as a potential Brunson suitor, is probably out of the running for the point guard because the club drafted Jaden Ivey.
What are the Knicks’ chances of landing Brunson? I can’t put a number on it. But, according to people in touch with the organization after the NBA Draft, some with the Knicks have legitimate optimism about their chances of landing Brunson.