Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks' price point to re-sign guard Jalen Brunson is reportedly about $22 million per year, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

That price point, per sources: a five-year deal at “more than Fred VanVleet money,” which means about $22M per year or $110M total value. https://t.co/fjAHrfcbQu

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 29, 2022

Per Grant Asfeth of Dallas Basketball, the max offer the Mavs can make to Brunson is worth five years and $175.45 million.

The New York Knicks are reportedly in hot pursuit of Brunson, to the point where Tim Cato of The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Mavs have "anticipated" the ex-Villanova star leaving for "weeks," to the point where it's "seen as a certainty" that he will leave town for the Big Apple.

Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein also tweeted Tuesday that "there is a growing resignation in Dallas, sources say, that the Knicks are indeed Brunson's top choice and his inevitable destination."

All the signs point to that happening. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the Knicks have cleared nearly $30 million in cap space to sign Brunson to close to a max contract:

The Knicks have cleared $30M in salary cap space to offer Dallas' Jalen Brunson in the neighborhood of a max contract. The unloading of assets and contracts clearly shows the Knicks' confidence that they can secure Brunson once free agency opens on Thursday.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

They notably traded Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday to clear $19 million in salary, per Wojnarowski. The Knicks also dealt point guard Kemba Walker to the Pistons last Thursday to clear another $9 million.

Per SNY's Ian Begley, the Knicks can offer Brunson a max deal of four years and $131 million.

Brunson, 25, averaged 16.3 points on 50.2 percent shooting, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds last year in his fourth NBA season. He's played his entire NBA career with the Mavs, who selected him with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Dallas Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson is reportedly set to join the New York Knicks when free agency opens on Thursday.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks will likely look to replace him with a veteran who has ties to star point guard Luka Doncic.

"Sources close to the process say Brunson’s exit would also increase the likelihood that Dallas tries to sign Goran Dragic, Doncic's Slovenian teammate, in free agency," Stein wrote.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported on Tuesday that the Knicks were preparing to offer Brunson "a four-year deal in excess of $100 million." New York has already made moves to clear cap space and reportedly intends to make more room for a massive offer to Brunson that would be difficult to turn down.

Brunson secured a big-money deal for himself with his stellar play throughout this past season. The 25-year-old averaged career-highs across the board with 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He then upped his production in the playoffs with an impressive run that saw him put up 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 18 games.

It's likely that Brunson feels ready to assume lead-guard duties after putting his potential on display last year. He wouldn't get that opportunity in Dallas, considering Doncic is one of the most ball-dominant players in the NBA.

Replacing Brunson with Dragic would be a stark contrast for Dallas. The 36-year-old will be entering his 14th year in the NBA next season and was limited to 21 games last year split between the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets. While Brunson isn't known for his defense, Dragic is much more of a liability on that end of the floor at this stage in his career.

After advancing to the Western Conference Finals this season, the Mavericks have to make the right offseason moves to ensure they remain a title contender next year.

With the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday, the offseason now turns to free agency and the start of the new league year on July 1.

And two of the most intriguing names to follow are Phoenix Suns center and restricted free agent Deandre Ayton and Dallas Mavericks point guard and unrestricted free agent Jalen Brunson.

For both players, the most logical team for each to sign with is their current one. The Suns are a true contender, and Ayton's rim-rolling skills and ability to defend on the perimeter fit well with the team's star duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

And the Mavericks are a burgeoning power in the West, fresh off a berth in the Conference Finals. Brunson thrived in Jason Kidd's first year on the job, averaging career highs in points (16.3 PPG) and assists (4.8 APG), proving to be an excellent complement to superstar Luka Doncic.

But what if they don't return?

A whole slew of teams have been rumored to have interest in Ayton this summer, including the Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers.

If Ayton's main goals are to sign a max contract and have a bigger offensive role—two things the Suns may be unable to offer him or uninterested in offering him—the Pistons could sign him outright to a max deal after clearing cap space in the Jerami Grant trade. He would instantly be one of the centerpieces of the franchise alongside Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, and Detroit's future prospects would look very, very bright.

The downside for Ayton would be going from a title contender to a young team thick in the middle of a rebuild. And even if he's comfortable with that change, the Suns will have the option to simply match a max offer and retain Ayton.

So while the Pistons feel like the front-runner, it's hardly a foregone conclusion.

The Thunder probably fell out of the running after drafting Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren at No. 2 overall on Thursday.

The Raptors would be an interesting fit, though they have plenty of mouths to feed in Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby. Ditto for the Hawks, which already have Clint Capela anyway. There would probably be too much overlap between Ayton and Julius Randle in New York, making that a wonky fit, though that hasn't stopped the Knicks from making head-scratching moves in free agency in the past.

But the Hornets are an intriguing option. LaMelo Ball and Ayton would make for a thrilling pick-and-roll pair, while the Hornets have a young core that came close to the playoffs this year and play an exciting brand of basketball.

The issue for the Hornets will be trying to retain restricted free agent Miles Bridges while also finding a sign-and-trade with the Suns to land Ayton that Phoenix will agree to this summer. It's hard to imagine the Suns being too excited about getting Gordon Hayward back in such a deal, so Charlotte will have to get creative, but Ayton and the Hornets are a natural fit.

The Trail Blazers could also rebuild on the fly by adding Ayton to pair with Damian Lillard in the pick-and-roll, building a core around that pair, Grant and Anfernee Simons, though taking on Grant's salary likely has taken the Blazers out of contention.

Then there's Brunson, with consistent rumors that the Knicks covet him. It makes sense—the Knicks desperately need a true point guard, and he would be a huge upgrade in that regard. The 25-year-old wouldn't turn a New York roster devoid of a true superstar into a title contender, but he might help them return to the playoffs.

The Knicks also cleared Kemba Walker's expiring $9.2 million salary in a draft-night trade, adding even more cap space to their coffers. And they added a number of future conditional first-round picks, which could be ammunition if players like Kyrie Irving or Donovan Mitchell become available in trade talks (sign-and-trade talks in Irving's instance).

Brunson will likely have other suitors, but this feels like it will come down to the Mavericks or Knicks. Staying put in Dallas is his best option from a contending standpoint—at least for now, depending on what other moves the Knicks might be envisioning—but anything can happen come free agency.

The parents of a 15-year-old Texas girl who went missing from a Dallas Mavericks game in April and was allegedly sex-trafficked publicly spoke about the case Saturday.

In an interview with ESPN and Good Morning America, Kyle and Brooke Morris discussed what happened to their daughter and stressed the importance of bringing awareness to the dangers of sex trafficking.

Kyle Morris, who is the girl's stepfather, detailed what happened during an April 8 game between the Mavs and Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Morris said the girl went to the bathroom before halftime of the game but didn't return, prompting him to notify security. He added that the girl didn't have her phone or ID with her, complicating matters.

He was later informed that security footage showed his stepdaughter leaving the game with an unidentified man.

Though the family's attorney said the girl didn't appear to leave by force, she was allegedly abused in the 10 days before she was found walking along the side of the road in Oklahoma City.

The girl's parents said she was "sexually assaulted multiple times, starved and not allowed to bathe" after being taken to an Oklahoma City hotel.

During the interview with ESPN and Good Morning America, Kyle Morris said: "We just want to make sure people understand ... that something like this can happen to anyone anywhere. Even if you don't think it's possible, there's people out there that they want to make it happen."

Brooke Morris added that her daughter told her she met several other girls in the same situation during her harrowing experience in Oklahoma, "And she said, 'I wonder how long they have been in this life, but no one looked for them.'"

Kyle Morris mentioned that the Mavericks were helpful in the investigation and that Mavs governor Mark Cuban quickly replied to an email he sent him and got him in contact with people who could help.

Three people were initially arrested in connection with the girl's disappearance after police searched a hotel room in Oklahoma City, and the girl was found three days later.

The Dallas Mavericks addressed a need with their reported acquisition of big man Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, and now the franchise is hopeful it can lock up another key player this offseason.

The Mavericks are "confident" that they will re-sign Jalen Brunson this summer after reaching the Western Conference Finals, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

The news comes as little surprise after Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported there was belief around the league that Brunson would return to Dallas.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban also addressed his desire to retain the 2018 second-round pick while reflecting on the 2021-22 season in May, saying that the franchise would go all-in to keep him in Dallas.

"We can pay him more than anybody, and I think he wants to stay and that's most important," Cuban said.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Brunson is in line to receive a contract that "meets or exceeds" the four-year, $85 million deal Fred VanVleet signed with the Toronto Raptors in 2020.

MacMahon previously reported that NBA executives believe Brunson will receive a deal worth between $20-25 million per year.

The maximum amount Dallas can offer the veteran is $175.5 million over five years, per Spotrac. It's hard to imagine he would receive that much as it would mean he would be making $35.1 million per year.

While signs are pointing toward Brunson returning to Dallas, there have been rumblings about him playing elsewhere next season as several teams have expressed interest, including the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.

The New York Knicks have also been considered a landing spot for the Villanova product because his father joined Tom Thibodeau's coaching staff in early June. However, Stein previously reported the Mavericks aren't concerned about Brunson joining the Knicks.

That said, the interest in Brunson comes as no surprise as he had a breakout 2021-22 season. The 25-year-old averaged 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 50.2 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from deep in 79 regular-season games.

Brunson was even better in the postseason, averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 46.6 percent from the floor and 34.7 percent from deep in 18 games.

If he returns to Dallas, the Mavericks will once again be one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly expected to consider signing veteran guard Goran Dragic in free agency this offseason.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas will be "prioritizing its need for more wing help," and will also consider the possibility of bringing in Dragic, who plays both guard spots.

The 36-year-old Dragic is a 14-year NBA veteran who split last season between the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets, primarily as a bench player.

Dragic is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, as he was often a healthy scratch during his time with the Raptors and stepped away from the team for personal reasons before getting traded to Brooklyn in February.

All told, Dragic appeared in 21 games and averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, while shooting 37.7 percent from the floor and 25.4 percent from beyond the arc, marking his worst output since the 2010-11 season.

By and large, Dragic has a strong resume, however, with career averages of 13.7 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 three-pointers made and 1.0 steal per game across 888 contests with the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Raptors and Nets.

Dragic was named an All-Star for the only time in 2017-18 while with the Heat, and he was both a third-team All-NBA selection and the NBA Most Improved Player in 2013-14 with the Suns when he averaged a career-high 20.3 points to go with 5.9 assists per game.

Despite not having a second star to play alongside guard Luka Doncic, the Mavs made it to the Western Conference Finals last season before falling to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

Dallas has already been hard at work trying to gear up for next season, agreeing to a trade for forward Christian Wood from the Rockets on Wednesday.

Dragic wouldn't be as big of an acquisition as Wood, but he would bring some much-needed depth.

Also, while he likely wouldn't produce at the same level, Dragic could replace some of what guard Jalen Brunson contributes if the Mavs are unable or unwilling to re-sign him in free agency.

Dragic is at a point in his career when chasing a championship may be the most attractive option for him, and playing alongside Doncic in Dallas would at least put him in the mix.

The Dallas Mavericks have acquired center Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the No. 26 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, center Boban Marjanovic, guard Trey Burke, wing Sterling Brown and big man Marquese Chriss, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon explained the trade from the Rockets' perspective:

Rockets were looking to move Christian Wood to clear playing time for Alperen Sengun and likely the No. 3 overall pick, whether that’s Paolo Banchero or Chet Holmgren. They pounced on chance to acquire a first-round pick (and no long-term salary) in the process.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 16, 2022

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer and Keith Smith of Celtics Blog provided insights from the Mavs' side:

We’re about to see the best version of Christian Wood with Luka Doncic. Wood can finish lobs like Dwight Powell or pop for 3s like Maxi Kleber, and attack off the dribble better than them both. It’s a contract year so he’s gonna be hustling all year on defense too. Huge addition. https://t.co/6H3cpr40KG

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 16, 2022

I like Christian Wood a lot.

Dallas traded four non-rotation players to get him and #26.

So, basically #26.

Even if Wood isn't perfect, that's a great deal for the Mavs.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 16, 2022

Here's a look at the Mavs' and Rockets' updated rosters, payrolls, salary cap situations and 2022 draft picks following the move.

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Mavericks Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Luka Doncic, PG: $42.5M (2027)

Tim Hardaway Jr., SG: $18.8M (2025)

Spencer Dinwiddie, PG: $18M (2024)

Davis Bertans, SF: $16M (2025)

Dorian Finney-Smith, SF: $13.9M (2026)

Christian Wood, PF: $13.7M (2023)

Dwight Powell, PF: $11.1M (2023)

Reggie Bullock, SF: $10M (2024)

Maxi Kleber, PF: $8.9M (2023)

Josh Green, SG: $3.4M (2024)

Frank Ntilikina, PG: $1.9M (2023)

Mavericks Free Agents

Jalen Brunson, PG: UFA

Theo Pinson, SG: UFA

Mavericks Payroll

Per Spotrac, the Mavericks were listed as having $182.9 million of total cap in 2022-23. Wood is credited with a $14.3 million cap figure for 2022-23.

The four ex-Mavericks' cap figures add up to around $12 million, although Burke can become a free agent if he declines his $3.3 million player option.

With those moves, the Mavs should now have $185.2 million on the books for next year. That would put them $63.2 million over the NBA's $122 million soft cap and $36.2 million over the $149 million luxury tax threshold.

Mavericks Draft Picks

The Mavericks no longer have any draft picks this year.

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Rockets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

John Wall, PG: $42.8M (2023, Player Option)

Eric Gordon, SG: $18.9M (2024)

Jalen Green, SG: $10.2M (2025)

David Nwaba, SG: $5M (2025)

Alperen Sengun, C: $3.9M (2025)

Boban Marjanovic, C: $3.5M (2023)

Trey Burke, G: $3.2M (2023, Player Option)

Usman Garuba, PF: $3M (2025)

Sterling Brown, SG: $3M (2023)

Josh Christopher, SG: $2.9M (2025)

Garrison Mathews, SG: $2.1M (2025)

Kevin Porter Jr., SG: $2M (2023)

Marquese Chriss, SF: $1.6M (2023)

Daishen Nix, PG: $1.5M (2025)

Jae'Sean Tate, SF: $1.5M (2023, Team Option)

Kenyon Martin Jr., SF: $1.4M (2024)

Free Agents

Dennis Schroder, PG: UFA

Bruno Fernando, PF: RFA

Anthony Lamb, SF: RFA

Trevelin Queen, SG: RFA

Rockets Payroll

Per Spotrac, the Rockets had a total cap of $142 million in 2022-23. Following the moves, Houston shaved $2.3 million off their books down to $139.7 million.

That would put them $17.7 million over the NBA's $122 million soft cap but $9.3 million under the $149 million luxury tax threshold.

Rockets Draft Picks

The Rockets now hold the No. 3, 17 and 26 overall picks in the 2022 NBA draft. Last year, Houston used four first-round draft picks, including the No. 2 overall selection on Jalen Green.

The Houston Rockets are reportedly trading Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the No. 26 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft and veterans Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss, per multiple reports.

Dallas is acquiring Christian Wood from Houston and sending the No. 26 overall pick to the Rockets, along with multiple players, sources said. https://t.co/fbxxAL7OGu

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2022

The Rockets are trading Christian Wood to Dallas for the 26th pick in the 2022 draft, Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2022

The 26-year-old was in the middle of his second season, though it wasn't devoid of drama.

Rockets coach Stephen Silas benched Wood for missing his COVID-19 testing window ahead of the Jan. 1 game against the Denver Nuggets. The player then refused to re-enter the game in the second half after Kevin Porter Jr. had an argument with the staff and left the arena.

He was suspended one game. In 68 games for the Rockets last season he averaged 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds.

While Wood has flashed skills since joining the Rockets, that locker room squabble was far from his first issue. There were some concerns about Wood in the pre-draft process after his one season at UNLV, and he bounced around the NBA before breaking out in 2019-20 with the Detroit Pistons and then inking a three-year deal in Houston.

“Lots of those guys who were drafted ahead of me aren’t in the league [anymore]. I’ve been to China, I’ve been cut, I’ve been told I wasn’t good enough. But I’m still here," he told Yaron Weitzman of The Ringer in 2020.

The Mavericks will hope another change of scenery gets the Long Beach, California native—who has one year and $14.3 million remaining on his contract—back on track.

The Chicago Bulls appear to be the New York Knicks' top competition for impending unrestricted free agent center Mitchell Robinson, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.

The Post has learned the Bulls are continuing to do their research on Robinson ahead of the July 1 free-agency period. The Bulls could be the main competitors for Robinson if the Knicks don’t lock him up to a contract extension on June 30.

The Bulls want to enhance their interior defense and believe Robinson could be a good fit slotted alongside offensive center Nikola Vucevic. ...

Meanwhile, an NBA source said center-starved Dallas is not expected to be interested in Robinson at his hefty price tag (at least $11M per year) and have set their sights on cheaper free-agent centers.

Robinson, 24, averaged 8.5 points on 76.1 percent shooting to go with 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for the Knicks last season. He's played four NBA campaigns since New York selected him 36th in the 2018 draft.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer also reported a Bulls-Robinson connection and noted the team is interested in Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert.

As Berman noted, the Mavericks are in the market for a center but don't appear willing to pay a potential $11 million-per-year contract for Robinson.

The Knicks could agree to a new deal with him by June 30, thereby preventing him from entering the free-agent market. Berman reported that the Knicks can offer him a four-year, $55 million max extension.

Unsurprisingly, though, Robinson is expected to test the free-agent waters, per SNY's Ian Begley, who also noted that the center and team were "far apart" on earlier extension talks this year:

In the days after the NBA Lottery, multiple people in touch with the Knicks say they were considering offseason scenarios for the center position if Robinson signs elsewhere.

I wouldn’t read too much into this, though. Any competent NBA team plans for all possible outcomes of their own player’s free agency.

Also, it’s worth noting that the Knicks have sent trainers to work with Robinson this offseason, per a league source.

If Robinson leaves, then Nerlens Noel would be the top center on the depth chart. Noel was held to just 25 games this past season for numerous reasons, including left and right knee injuries, the league's health-and-safety protocols and plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

The 28-year-old Noel averaged 3.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game.

The Utah Jazz requested permission to interview Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney as part of their head coaching search, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Sweeney joined Jason Kidd's staff ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season. Prior to that, he had spells with the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

Sweeney already interviewed with the Charlotte Hornets in May, but he failed to make the reported list of finalists.

The Jazz were a late entrant into the NBA coaching carousel, with Quin Snyder stepping down on June 5. His resignation wasn't totally unexpected following Utah's first-round playoff exit, but it was surprising all the same.

The Jazz made the playoffs in each of Snyder's last six seasons and had a .585 winning percentage with him at the helm. As much as the franchise seemed to peak with Snyder, there's always a level of risk by making a coaching change.

Wojnarowski and ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Tuesday that the Jazz received permission to interview New York Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee and Boston Celtics assistant coaches Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla.

Per Wojnarowski and MacMahon, Jazz assistant Alex Jensen and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts will also receive interviews.

Wojnarowski added more names to the mix Wednesday:

Two more candidates expected to interview for Utah’s coaching job, sources tell ESPN: Frank Vogel and Jazz assistant Lamar Skeeter. https://t.co/1zQX8Trhq3

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

Utah has requested permission to interview two more assistant coaches -- Toronto's Adrian Griffin and Phoenix's Kevin Young, sources tells ESPN. https://t.co/0mc1YWH7bl

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

No team ever wants to swing and miss in a coaching search, but the stakes are especially high for the Jazz.

Snyder's replacement will at the very least be expected to maintain the level he helped build in Salt Lake City. And the team's success—or lack thereof—could have implications for Donovan Mitchell's future.

Wojnarowski reported on June 5 that Mitchell was "surprised and disappointed" by Snyder's departure. Sources told Wojnarowski that the three-time All-Star was "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future."

Mitchell is signed for at least three more years, but Snyder's departure might have planted the seeds for an exit from Utah earlier than that.

Hiring the right coach could help to assuage any concerns Mitchell might have about the direction of the organization.