Jalen Brunson, an All-Star guard, has finally spoken on the rumored impending negotiations for an extension that would grant the New York Knicks a home-team discount.
In their May 31 “Roommates Show” podcast, Brunson said to his Knicks teammate Josh Hart, “I don’t know what extension talks you’re talking about.” “I promise not to tell you lies.”
According to a previous story by Steve Popper of Newsday, there is a possibility that Brunson might agree to a contract extension this summer.
According to reports, Jordan Brunson would prefer to accept a four-year, $156 million contract extension rather waiting another year, Popper wrote on May 20.
For the Knicks star, though, it makes little financial sense to sign an extension this summer.
In response to Brunson, Hart wrote, “I just noticed on Twitter that you’re eligible.”
“Do you think that everything you see on Twitter is real?” Brunson retaliated immediately.
If the 27-year-old Brunson declines the player option on the current four-year, $104 million contract he signed as a free agency in 2022, he will be entitled to negotiate a significantly more lucrative — five-year, $270 million contract — in the 2025 offseason. Brunson has just reached his prime years.
Brunson’s current contract has already been outplayed. With Julius Randle out of the lineup since January 27 and OG Anunoby coming and going, he led the Knicks to the second round of the playoffs once more, posting a career-high 28.7 points and 6.7 assists.
During the playoffs, Brunson improved his play, averaging 32.4 points and 7.5 assists. However, in their Game 7 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he suffered a hand injury.
An underwhelming conclusion to Brunson’s finest NBA season—during which he was selected as an All-Star for the first time and was named to the All-NBA Second Team—came from the surgery-related injuries.
Another Knicks star desires a long-term stay
According to ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks, Randle, the other outstanding player on the Knicks, is also available to sign a three-year $140.3 million extension if he chooses to, or a four-year $181.5 million extension if the option is denied.
However, Randle lacks the leverage that Brunson possesses after undergoing yet another major surgery that kept him out of the postseason and the second half of the season. In the event that the Knicks extend their offer to Randle, he will almost certainly accept it this summer.
According to the New York Post on May 31, Randle stated, “I’ve always said from the very beginning I would love to be here in New York and I would love to continue to add on to what the guys did in the playoffs.” “I think that when I came here, my main personal goal—or, in a way, our team goal—was to be able to develop and compete and to get to the point where we are now, where it’s actually possible [to win a championship].”
That’s truly all I’m focused on right now—doing everything in my power to ensure that I recover and get healthy so that I can be ready for our next game and help us win. My entire emphasis is on that, and in my career, the rest has always fallen into place.
Josh Hart wished he could also extend his contract. Hart inked a four-year, $81 million contract last summer, which begins with the upcoming season. Although he wished the extension talks had started a year earlier.
Regarding what he saw on X, the former Twitter, Hart said to Brunson on their “Roommate Show” podcast, “I didn’t say you’re talking.” “All I’m saying is that you qualify. I’m not qualified for any awards. I wish I was qualified.
The injury to Randle helped Hart. In 50 games, including the playoffs, Hart has averaged 12.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists since Randle suffered a dislocated right shoulder on January 27.
Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein are anticipated to secure lucrative contracts as free agents, with the exception of Brunson and Randle, who are qualified to sign new contracts.
“We have really good pieces who are on good contracts right and can grow with,” Hart said. “But then on the friend-teammate side you’re like damn I wish all of us were free agents because all of us could go get a bag except for JB (Brunson). He’s going get his anyways.”
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