The Dallas Mavericks under Nico Harrison didn’t just lose Luka Doncic. They also parted ways with Jalen Brunson, who has since blossomed into a legitimate star with the New York Knicks while pursuing his first championship.
Jalen Brunson departed Dallas in July 2022, signing a four-year, $104 million contract with the Knicks in what many fans viewed as a devastating blow to the franchise’s future.
Harrison admits Mavericks anticipated Brunson’s exit
While Brunson’s departure might have seemed like a gut punch to fans, Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison recently revealed that the organization was bracing for this outcome well before it happened.
“You lose a talent like Brunson, it’s definitely a blow,” Harrison acknowledged. “But we’ve been through it before. We knew it was a possibility that could happen. We did as good a job as you could do with anticipating something like this actually happening.”
Brunson’s rise from second-round pick to playoff standout significantly increased his market value, making his departure increasingly likely as free agency approached.
The GM expressed no shock at Brunson’s chosen destination, noting the guard’s strong connections to the Knicks organization. “That he went to New York? Nah,” Harrison said. “You look at the relationship with who he has in New York. It’s not surprising. Not at all.”
Family ties and relationships sealed Brunson’s New York move
These connections ran deep, with Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, serving as an assistant coach with the Knicks, and team president Leon Rose having previously represented Jalen as an agent.
While fans might have hoped for a different outcome, the Mavericks front office seemingly recognized these relationships would play a significant role in Brunson’s decision-making process.
The aftermath of Brunson’s departure left Dallas scrambling to fill the scoring and playmaking void he left behind. Many speculated that Tim Hardaway Jr., returning from injury, would shoulder much of this burden.
Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesHardaway’s return provided scoring but not Brunson’s complete package
Harrison acknowledged Hardaway’s potential contribution without suggesting he would directly replace everything Brunson brought to the team.
“You’re going to get a lot of scoring that we lost from JB,” Harrison said of Hardaway. “He’s a big-time 3-point shot maker. He can score the ball. And he can play defense, too. I call him an addition, even though he was with our team. But we didn’t have him [for most of last season], so it’s like a new addition.”
Despite Hardaway having his moments, the chemistry, playmaking ability, and postseason poise that defined Brunson’s game proved difficult to replicate. Dallas ultimately struggled to find the right roster balance, placing even more responsibility on Luka Doncic‘s shoulders.
Looking back, Harrison’s comments reveal a front office that saw the writing on the wall but still felt the sting of losing a homegrown talent who continued to ascend after his departure.