Just when you thought that the city of New York could not possibly love Jalen Brunson any more, he may be finding a way.
Steve Popper of Newsday reported Tuesday that the Knicks star Brunson, who is eligible for an extension this offseason, could be willing to give the team a hometown discount. Popper notes that Brunson can wait until next summer and sign a five-year, $270 million max extension (for roughly $54 million per year) with the Knicks. However, Brunson is reportedly willing to sign a four-year, $156 million extension this summer (about $39 million per year and well below his max) so as to avoid holding up the team.
The 27-year-old Brunson is currently under contract for $25 million next season with an additional $25 million player option for the 2025-26 season. Signing a four-year extension this offseason would effectively do away with that 2025-26 option and give Brunson a total of five more years of certainty with the Knicks from this point.
In his second year as a Knick, Brunson was absolutely brilliant individually, averaging 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game as he made the leap to true NBA star. Brunson clearly wants to be in New York as well considering that he is a native of nearby New Brunswick, N.J. and that his father Rick is an assistant coach for the Knicks.
If Brunson is indeed willing to accept a relatively team-friendly long-term extension from the Knicks, that would solve a lot of their roster enigmas. It would give the Knicks more wiggle room to re-sign impending free agents OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein this summer and might also prevent them from having to move this player who has recently been the subject of trade rumors.
