{"id":422711,"date":"2026-09-01T09:30:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T09:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/422711\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T09:30:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T09:30:26","slug":"knicks-domino-effects-what-if-jalen-brunson-stayed-in-dallas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/422711\/","title":{"rendered":"Knicks Domino Effects: What if Jalen Brunson stayed in Dallas?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Domino effects are meant to start relatively small. The first two editions of the series, I feel like, encompassed that. We got really niche with the Mike Brown Kings saga<\/a> and less niche with Julius Randle\u2019s injury,<\/a> but both of them required a lot of outside-the-box thinking to see directly what a reversal would\u2019ve caused to the Knicks\u2019 long-term hopes.<\/p>\n

This one is anything but niche.<\/p>\n

To wrap up this mini-series I\u2019ve had fun with over the dog days of the summer, we\u2019re going to look at possibly the biggest domino effect of them all, one that was scarily realistic and only didn\u2019t occur because of the hubris of a certain front office that later made one of the worst trades in NBA history.<\/p>\n

You saw the title. This is a scenario that Jalen Brunson, the birthday boy and the man who has exceeded every expectation and has spearheaded a revival of Knicks basketball so grand that all of us have spent way too much money on championship merch, never puts on the orange and blue.<\/p>\n

\"DALLAS,<\/a><\/p>\n

DALLAS, TX – MAY 24: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks walks off the court after Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham\/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Following his third season in Dallas, Brunson and his agents at CAA wanted to negotiate a contract extension with the Mavericks\u2019 brass. The number that they decided on was more than reasonable for a player of his current production: four years and $55 million. After all, he was coming off finishing fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting with plausible upward mobility.<\/p>\n

Dallas said no. Fast forward a few months: as Brunson began what turned out to be a breakout campaign, he and his agent approached the Mavs again about the same framework and were again told no.<\/p>\n

Brunson kept working and gradually improving to the point where the Mavs themselves approached him about the $55 million deal after the trade deadline, but at that point, he had outgrown that offer as he was barreling towards free agency. Four months later, he landed in New York on a four-year, $104 million pact.<\/p>\n

But what if Dallas realized what they had in Brunson at either one of those points, particularly the in-season extension? What if they took a guy that the Knicks had long been looking at off the market? Such a deal would\u2019ve been more than reasonable for their current cap structure as a sixth man or starter next to Luka Doncic, even if the fit was potentially difficult due to both of their defensive shortcomings. Frankly, it was nonsensical for them to be that blind. This was a good player.<\/p>\n

December 1, 2021. Jalen Brunson and the Dallas Mavericks announce a four-year, $55 million extension that will begin the following season. Let\u2019s see where the dominoes fall.<\/p>\n

Nothing changes from this point forward on any side for the rest of the 2021-22 season. Brunson still balls out and gets on the national radar with his incredible performance in the postseason; the Knicks still miss the playoffs, etc. Instead of the media clowning the Knicks for giving Brunson a nine-figure deal in June, the offseason is spent lauding Nico Harrison and company for their wherewithal to lock down this impact player for cheap.<\/p>\n

Of course, this creates a gigantic path of divergence for the Knicks, who were always infatuated with Brunson because of his family connections. I still think Rick Brunson gets hired onto Tom Thibodeau\u2019s staff to replace the outgoing Kenny Payne (who had a truly disastrous tenure at Louisville). The hiring was definitely motivated by his son\u2019s free agency, but he had also served as an assistant under Thibs in Chicago and Minnesota, so it still happens.<\/p>\n

The real question, though, is what happens in that offseason. Our first major question revolves around the strategy for the 2022 NBA Draft, particularly with the No. 11 overall pick.<\/p>\n

\"BROOKLYN,<\/a><\/p>\n

BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 23: NBA Draft Prospects pose for a group portrait before the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes\/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

For those who don\u2019t remember, the Knicks selected Ousmane Dieng, traded him to the Thunder in exchange for three first-round picks, traded up to No. 13 in exchange for two picks, selected Jalen Duren, and shipped him to Detroit alongside Kemba Walker in an effective salary dump. The team came out with solid assets and cleared up some cash.<\/p>\n

The motivation behind punting a lottery pick? Signing Jalen Brunson. A later trade with Detroit shipped Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel to the Motor City and cleared up just enough space for the Villanova alum and Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. It\u2019s why I never cared about people saying \u201cthe Knicks traded Jalen Duren for nothing\u201d because it\u2019s false. You don\u2019t get Brunson (most likely) without trading Duren, his cap hit, and the salary attached.<\/p>\n

But with Brunson off the table and no clear reason to use cap space, the Knicks are dead set on picking in the lottery. You might think it\u2019s as simple as drafting Dieng or Duren, but the Knicks almost certainly made both selections on behalf of the teams they were actively negotiating with. After all, if they wanted them, they wouldn\u2019t trade them.<\/p>\n

There were a few plans for this draft leading up to it. After the Knicks were once again denied a chance at lottery luck, they constantly rang the phones to try to trade up for Jaden Ivey. They may get over the line for this. After all, with no Brunson on the way, there are no schematic issues.<\/p>\n

It would still be a very difficult trade to make, so I lean toward it not happening. After Ivey, they seemed quite enamored with Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis, but the Wizards took him 10th overall. That\u2019s two major bullets dodged, but who\u2019s on the clock at No. 11?<\/p>\n

The available players who had a pre-draft workout<\/a> in New York were AJ Griffin, Tari Eason, MarJon Beauchamp, and Mark Williams. I would think it would be one of these guys, even if the extremely talented Jalen Williams and Duren were on the board. In typical Leon Rose fashion, he probably does the first two trades of the night, where he trades out and comes back in, ultimately scooping up two conditional firsts from Detroit and Washington while trading four seconds.<\/p>\n

With the 13th pick, they select Duke wing AJ Griffin.<\/p>\n

\"CLEVELAND,<\/a><\/p>\n

CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 15: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks ignores Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 15, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

With no Brunson and an unsuccessful pursuit of both Davis and Ivey in the draft, the Knicks badly need a point guard. I\u2019d assume they still look to offload salary, particularly with Kemba, to open cap space, but the extent of this is unclear due to the lack of a clear alternative in free agency. There\u2019s restricted free agent Collin Sexton, of course, but the direction that needs to be taken appears to be in the trade market.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there are two lead guards available.<\/p>\n

Dejounte Murray is on the block in San Antonio and could be had for a reasonable package. His defensive fortitude makes him a welcome fit for a team that has major defensive questions, and his offense has also proven capable of a leap forward. There\u2019s also that New York native out in Utah who could be of use\u2026<\/p>\n

For Murray, the Knicks never seemed that motivated to make that move, even if he would\u2019ve been a decent fit next to Brunson in real life. They were always more focused on adding Donovan Mitchell and figuring it out later. In this timeline, Murray still goes to Atlanta, but it\u2019s a full-court press on bringing Spida home.<\/p>\n

With no Brunson, there\u2019s nothing holding them back from adding a small guard into the fray. The fit concerns aren\u2019t there. When Danny Ainge and the Jazz ask for a ridiculous package,<\/a> it\u2019s eventually negotiated down into something the team can agree on.<\/p>\n

In mid-August 2022, Mitchell comes home for a package centered around RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes, depleting the team\u2019s draft capital to keep further players out of the deal. As much as fans want to play the kids, the Knicks see an opportunity to compete and take it.<\/p>\n

Thus, here\u2019s the rotation we have heading into the 2022-23 season:<\/p>\n

Donovan Mitchell – Derrick Rose
Evan Fournier – Immanuel Quickley
Alec Burks – Cam Reddish\/AJ Griffin
Julius Randle – Obi Toppin
Mitchell Robinson – Isaiah Hartenstein<\/p>\n

Yes, in this reality, we assume that the Knicks still find a way to get off Noel\u2019s contract but keep Burks as wing depth after trading Barrett and Grimes. Hartenstein was always a target for the front office and still comes to New York.<\/p>\n

This lineup, as you might imagine, would\u2019ve been rather erratic. You have some brilliant shotmakers in there, but not enough defenders. Tom Thibodeau\u2019s seat gets hot again; he\u2019s forced to bench some players permanently, and the mini-revival still happens\u2026 to an extent.<\/p>\n

Quickley gets a chance to start with Spida, Deuce McBride\u2019s emergence happens a year sooner, Randle enjoys his bounce-back season. The foundation of the start of the Brunson era would\u2019ve likely been similar, but the real repercussions come later.<\/p>\n

At the deadline, the team needs wing depth, having iced Reddish out of the rotation. With Brunson no longer on the team, I can\u2019t imagine the interest in Josh Hart is any more pronounced. It\u2019s still possible that the trade happens. I\u2019m instead going to involve the Knicks in the multi-team trade with the Warriors and Pistons that got Gary Payton II back to the Bay. The Knicks send a bucket of seconds and Cam Reddish to Detroit for Saddiq Bey.<\/p>\n

With Mitchell, the Knicks win 48 games and slide into the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, where they host a Cavs team that never got the New York native and instead had to continue building around Darius Garland, Sexton, and Evan Mobley. The Knicks still win in five.<\/p>\n

In the second round, the Bucks still get slayed by the wrath of Jimmy Butler and the Heat, and although many fans are optimistic about the prospects of facing the No. 8 seed, Butler waxes the Knicks in a six-game defeat.<\/p>\n

Heading into the following season, the Knicks are content with what they got, planning to use it as a building year. Burks never being traded means there\u2019s not enough space to sign Donte DiVincenzo, who was also likely going to be someone Brunson pitched<\/a> signing. There\u2019s no big move to be made here, so we keep going into a shaky start to the 2023-24 season, which leaves them at an inflection point around the New Year.<\/p>\n

As you might recall, OG Anunoby was acquired in real life on December 30, 2023, for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick. In this reality, Barrett is already gone, but Quickley is becoming a foundational piece after being started out of necessity midway through the prior season. The financials still work if the Knicks add Burks to the trade, but with Barrett not included, the rest of the team\u2019s excess draft capital goes with it.<\/p>\n

The Big 3 of Spida-Anunoby-Randle destroy the competition in January 2024 until injuries take out both Randle and Anunoby. Mitchell does his best to imitate 2024 Brunson and gets First-Team All-NBA for his troubles, but it\u2019s certainly an uphill climb. Without DiVincenzo to help with off-ball scoring, the Knicks only win 46 games, dropping them to the play-in tournament. Remember, the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds were just three games apart that year.<\/p>\n

The Knicks get revenge on the Heat in the 7-8 game, but have to fare with a road series against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in the first round, one that just doesn\u2019t go well. With no Randle to physically match up, Toppin (who I believe doesn\u2019t get traded with the team\u2019s worst depth the prior season) and Precious Achiuwa are overwhelmed in a six-game defeat. The front office blames injuries and doesn\u2019t make any drastic moves\u2026 yet.<\/p>\n

The Mikal Bridges trade never happens. They had to use a boatload of draft assets to get Anunoby and Mitchell, so the Nets aren\u2019t interested. Anunoby extends, Spida gets his three-year, $150 million extension, and the Knicks seem prepared to run it back in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Now, you might wonder: what about KAT?<\/p>\n

The Knicks badly wanted him, but they lacked a guy who Minnesota really valued in DiVincenzo to get it done. Further, the fact that Mitchell took a max extension puts the team eerily close to the second apron, something they avoided with Brunson\u2019s pay cut. There\u2019s a very realistic world that this trade doesn\u2019t happen, but Leon Rose always gets his guy, so they trade Mitchell Robinson and the last bits of draft capital to get it done.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not worth prognosticating who fills the Hart and Bridges gaps in the lineup, but the Knicks are built around Mitchell, Anunoby, and Towns. That Big 3 would get two seasons to work everything out, going into the second apron in 2025-26 before James Dolan would order a restructuring. They had to win. They had no choice.<\/p>\n

In the first year, they get bounced in the second round by the Celtics after a 52-win season. The poise of the Brunson-led Knicks was a big part of why they came back from all those deficits, plus the team would be utterly devoid of defensive length without Robinson or Bridges. This also means that the Knicks and Pacers never rekindle their rivalry in either season, which is fun to think about.<\/p>\n

In 2025-26, the year we all rejoiced in real life, they had a real chance. They fortified the depth; they hired Mike Brown to replace Thibs; they waltzed into an extremely weak East and grabbed the bull by the horns.<\/p>\n

50 wins in the regular season, enough for the No. 3 seed. They survived a seven-game war with Atlanta, took out Philadelphia in six games, and went face-to-face with the Pistons in the ECF. Remember, no Mitchell likely dooms the Cavs to mediocrity and no ECF berth.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to say for sure if the Pistons give the Knicks the same fits they did in real life, but let\u2019s look at the facts. The Knicks were still a major question mark defensively and had no answer for Cade Cunningham. Additionally, they lacked the presence of Robinson (even in a backup role) to fluster Duren. In a tense, seven-game series, the Pistons prevailed. It\u2019s over.<\/p>\n

Mitchell would not be extended again by the Knicks, as his playoff shortcomings would not be worth the $270 million extension he got in real life. I\u2019d think the front office would side with the Big Bodega in this, and the team would be built around the fleeting prime of Towns from here.<\/p>\n

Safe to say, no banners. Sad stuff. But how\u2019s Jalen doing in Dallas?<\/p>\n

Brunson\u2019s New Life In Dallas<\/p>\n

\"INDIANAPOLIS,<\/a><\/p>\n

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 18: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Western Conference All-Stars handles the ball against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks and Eastern Conference All-Stars in the fourth quarter during the 2024 NBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 18, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

Dallas did basically nothing that offseason to replace Brunson, leaving them inherently weaker entering the 2022-23 season. They still acquire Christian Wood after retaining Brunson, but they feel pretty stagnant.<\/p>\n

The big change in the 2022-23 season is that the Mavericks never traded for Kyrie Irving, as the fit with him, Brunson, and Luka would\u2019ve been quite bizarre. They also wouldn\u2019t feel the need to, as when Doncic goes down with injury right before the deadline, we see glimpses of Knicks Brunson in the emerging Villanova alum.<\/p>\n

Dallas was quite bad this season, flaming out in the play-in tournament, but an interesting trickle-down effect from this is that they wouldn\u2019t be able to properly tank to keep their draft pick, so a parting gift from Brunson would give the Knicks a lottery pick in 2023, which they\u2019d use on a guy like Jordan Hawkins. Not a needle mover, so I didn\u2019t feel the need to mention until now.<\/p>\n

The reverb would be no Dereck Lively II in Dallas, but the supporting cast from guys like PJ Washington and eventually Daniel Gafford would provide enough for the Mavericks to still go deep in the postseason in 2024, maybe making the NBA Finals but still not coming that close to a title.<\/p>\n

At the same time that all appears to be well in Dallas, Nico Harrison is stirring. He doesn\u2019t like the frequent unavailability of Doncic, who still suffers a major hamstring injury on Christmas 2024. In his absence, unlike in real life where Kyrie suffered a multi-week injury as well, the Mavericks experience the joy of 2024 Jalen Brunson, who carries Dallas through January to the point where Harrison has an epiphany.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if I fortify my defense and Jalen can give me Luka-esque production?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunson\u2019s explosion dooms Doncic\u2019s tenure, as the controversial trade with the Lakers still occurs. Anthony Davis would now be paired with a head of the snake in Brunson, a match seemingly made in heaven.<\/p>\n

Except Davis is still injury-prone. Dallas never has the death spiral they had with Davis and Irving\u2019s season-ending injuries because Brunson would be there trying to play hero ball. He does just enough to win them 45 games to take the No. 9 seed. After defeating Sacramento in the 9-10 game, a heroic 40-ball sees them stun the Grizzlies to steal a playoff spot, only to get eviscerated by the powerhouse Thunder.<\/p>\n

This turns out to be an utter disaster, as Cooper Flagg will no longer become a Maverick. It was possible to have a core of Brunson, Davis, and Flagg, but now? Brunson hits his 30th birthday with Davis shipped to Washington and a band of merrymen around him.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s right. The real twist of all of this? Nobody wins.<\/p>\n

The Knicks lose because they don\u2019t have Brunson. They never sniff the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks lose because the domino effect takes two lottery picks away, and JB\u2019s hyper-competitiveness doesn\u2019t allow them to get younger.<\/p>\n

Jalen Brunson loses. Instead of being the King of New York, he\u2019s got a microscope on him in lowly Dallas as the guy Nico traded Luka to feature.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a lose-lose situation. What a nightmare. I need my nightlight; someone turn on some highlights.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s better. Happy Birthday, Cap. We\u2019re so glad this never happened.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Domino effects are meant to start relatively small. The first two editions of the series, I feel like,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":422712,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[102,104,103,147100],"class_list":["post-422711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-headlines","tag-dallas-news","tag-knicktion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/422712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}