Report: Jalen Brunson Could Leave $100M On The Table To Extend With Knicks

Sometimes players will give their incumbent team a bit of a 'hometown discount' to re-sign. But the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson might be taking that to a whole new level.

According to a report from Fred Katz in The Athletic, Brunson is considering signing an extension this summer that would see him leave $113 million on the table, compared to waiting until free agency next offseason to sign.

The Knicks can’t make their official offer until Friday, but he knows it’s coming. And to this point, according to a league source, signing the extension is still under consideration.
If Brunson were to take it, cementing a deal that would promise him nine figures less than one he could receive as a free agent a year from now, it would do wonders for the Knicks — and not because it places extra dollars in James Dolan’s pockets.

As Katz notes, that extra $100M+ would allow the Knicks to further bolster the roster around Brunson without going into the dreaded second apron of luxury tax, which would obviously help take the team closer to the championship level they so desperately want to get to.

Another reason Brunson could take the money now, is that he is a smallish point guard, and he plays a kamikaze style. There's no guarantees in this world, and who knows — a serious injury could wipe out his chance at such a massive contract.

The four-year extension that he's eligible for this Friday is worth $156.5 million. But by waiting until he hits free agency in 2025, he would be eligible to sign a max contract, worth a projected $269.1 million over five years, per Katz.

The big $113 million question—for Brunson and the Knicks—is just days away.