Jalen Brunson is expected to attract interest this offseason as he’s about the enter free agency in August. After the end of the Dallas Mavericks’ season Thursday, the franchise will have to address Brunson’s impeding free agency.
Brunson will enter the market coming off a breakout season, and he figures to attract a lot of attention if he wants to test the waters. The Mavs could have signed Brunson to a four-year extension worth up to $55.5 million before the start of this season.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported in April the team never made that offer. An extension for Brunson will certainly cost the Mavericks a lot more than it would have as recently as January.
MacMahon noted a poll of executives estimated the floor for Brunson’s new contract will be $20 million per season. In the post-game presser, the dynamic guard stated he’s not thinking his future right now.
The Mavericks were just eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. The Mavs made the first deep playoff run since their championship year back in 2011.
“When it’s time, it’s time. For me, I’m just — when it happens, it happens. I’m not worried about it right now,” Brunson said.
“Honestly, at this point, how I feel, I’m really happy that I got to play with these guys, and the things that we did this year, that’s all I’m really focused on right now and thinking about. I’ll think about that later.”
The Villanova alumni averaged a career-high 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game in 79 appearances during the 2021-22 regular season. In 18 postseason appearances this season, he put up 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assist per contest.
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