Ever the low-maintenance superstar, Jokic is potentially breaking character in order to apply pressure on the Nuggets. They have spent their post-championship run erring in internal contract negotiations, and more recently, using draft equity to cut salary rather than sufficiently augment the core around their superstar.<\/p>\n
With Brunson eligible for an extension himself in 2027, the Knicks better be taking notes.<\/p>\n
The Knicks could be forcing Brunson\u2019s hand<\/p>\n
People will laugh off the idea that Brunson would turn down the payday he\u2019s been waiting on. They did the same with Jokic. Look what\u2019s happening now.<\/p>\n
New York will be closer to its championship victory than Denver when Brunson\u2019s extension eligibility rolls around, which could help its case. This team has a legitimate chance of becoming the first repeat<\/a> squad since the Kevin Durant-era Golden State Warriors, too.<\/p>\n Still, the Knicks are simultaneously playing with fire. In a mandate that shocked the front office, owner James Dolan is unwilling to let the team cross into<\/a> the second apron, according to The Athletic\u2019s Fred Katz. Unless something changes, this will cost New York Mitchell Robinson. It may also lead to them losing<\/a> Landry Shamet.<\/p>\n This alone is a stance that should anger the ever-living heck<\/a> out of Brunson. He didn\u2019t take the bargain-bin extension he\u2019s on just so Dolan could sidestep<\/a> the second apron forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brunson may need to give the Knicks a reality check<\/p>\n Wasting any opportunity to maximize your championship when Brunson is this good verges on malpractice by Dolan. Don\u2019t waste your breath defending him in the face of second-apron restrictions, either. The penalties for this team wouldn\u2019t be truly prohibitive for another<\/a> two years.<\/p>\n Plus, this summer\u2019s thinking doesn\u2019t augur well for the future. If Dolan isn\u2019t willing to enter the second apron now, this won\u2019t necessarily change next offseason, when Karl-Anthony Towns (player option) and Deuce McBride are eligible for new deals.<\/p>\n It should not fall on Brunson to send a message to Dolan. And look, he may not take it upon himself to do so. The money might be too much. Using a $181.9 million salary-cap projection for 2028-29, when Brunson\u2019s extension would kick in, he\u2019ll be eligible to sign a four-year, $285.2 million extension around this time next summer.<\/p>\n Who in their right mind would turn down that money? Well, how about Brunson? He already walked away from tens of millions in guaranteed money<\/a> to maximize the Knicks\u2019 title odds. Who\u2019s to say he won\u2019t do the same to let them (read: Dolan) know that cutting corners around the second apron at the expense of their on-court product is unacceptable?<\/p>\n If the Knicks are smart, they will do what it takes\u2014whatever it takes\u2014to ensure they never find out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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