NBA free agent No. 4: Jalen Brunson
25-year-old Jalen Brunson‘s stock has only increased after this most recent playoff run, with the Villanova product being a viable second option on a Western Conference Finals team. Obviously, Luka Doncic is carrying the Mavericks for the most part, but Brunson has shined in his own right, averaging 22.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on 47.4% shooting on this playoff run.
Brunson kept Dallas afloat against Utah when Doncic was hurt at the beginning of the first round, earning him a massive payday in free agency. He’s one of the shiftiest guards in the league, able to get by any defender using his body and excellent footwork. He shot above 50% from both 3-10 feet and 10-16 feet, with most of those looks being self-created.
Shots in the paint were only assisted on 19.8% of the time this season for Brunson, while attempts from 10-16 feet were assisted on only 27.1% of looks. Therefore, the point guard has proven himself as a shot-creator for both himself and others, able to get an efficient shot against anyone in isolation.
Brunson is an unrestricted free agent going into this offseason, as he’s only made a little over $6 million in his career so far as a former second-round pick. That payday will jump dramatically, as he’s likely earned greater than $80 million in this next deal.
While the Dallas Mavericks were once questioning the future of Brunson on their team, this playoff run has to reinforce the likelihood that he stays, as breaking up this core would be foolish at this point in time. Despite this, teams like the Pacers, Knicks, and Pistons all showed interest in the point guard in free agency.
He could slot in as a viable floor general on any of those teams, adding another shot creator to relatively sluggish offenses. Detroit, in particular, would be interesting, as a core of him, Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, and Jerami Grant if he stays with the team, would be a much-upgraded starting unit.