The New York Knicks were blessed by starting point guard Jalen Brunson on Friday, who signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension that kicks in during the 2025–26 season. Instead of opting for a five-year, $270 max contract in free agency next year, he did the Knicks a solid, giving them substantial financial flexibility now to maximize his earnings later.
Jalen Brunson’s Strategic Move Boosts Knicks’ Financial Flexibility
In the end, Brunson has the luxury of building a timeless legacy in New York and potentially cashing in again on a new contract with a player option in the fourth year of his new deal. Essentially, he will be under team control until the 2027-28 season, when he can sign another mammoth contract.
However, Brunson leading the charge for the next few seasons at less AAV than OG Anunoby is a blessing. He’s coming off a year where he averaged 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, shooting .479 from the field and .401 from three-point range. He ranked fifth in MVP voting and was the Knicks’ most important player throughout the campaign, helping them make moves despite injuries.
Brunson’s Impact and Team Dynamics
The respect that Brunson commands due to his scoring prowess will open up the Knicks’ other four starters to have more success. The team recently acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for five first-round picks. Bridges has a $23 million salary hit this upcoming season, one of the more favorable contracts given his potential. He was never able to live up to the hype with Brooklyn due to their constant turnover.
However, the 6’6″, 209-pound forward averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists this past season, including a .436 field goal percentage. Bridges is known to be one of the best wing defenders in the league, ranking second in Defensive Player of the Year voting back during the 2021–22 season with Phoenix. He can now return to that version of himself, using his athletic profile and size to man up players of all shapes and sizes.
The Knicks aren’t only getting a young player with potential left to extract but one of the more healthier assets on the roster. Bridges has played a minimum of 72 games in every year of his professional career, so that is a variable that shouldn’t go undetected.
Opposite Bridges, the Knicks brought back Anunoby on a long-term extension. Anunoby is one of the best defensive players in the league as well, locking down anyone the Knicks throw his way. He averaged 14.7 points this past season between Toronto and New York but contributed 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He shot .489 from the field and .382 from downtown, promoting his offensive potential.
Anunoby represents a key component to the Knicks’ potential and given his body health history, having Josh Hart come off the bench is a perfect rotation.
The Role of Julius Randle and the Center Position
At the power forward position, the Knicks have Julius Randle, who’s returning from a dislocated shoulder injury requiring surgery. The 29-year-old was averaging 24 points, 9.2 rebounds, and five assists before the injury. He shot .472 field but only .311 from downtown.
Fortunately, the Knicks only need Randle to drive to the basket and take shots moving forward. Their wings are potent perimeter scorers. Randle can also double as a big man, given his physicality and rebounding. Having made the All-Star game in three of the last four seasons, Randle is an asset and should provide plenty of value to the Knicks next season, helping to boost their overall presence inside while giving players problems with his physicality.
Last but not least, the Knicks currently have Mitchell Robinson slotted in as their primary starting center. Robinson is one of the best defensive big men in the league when healthy, but that’s the problem: He’s rarely available. He played just 31 games this past season and was knocked out of the playoffs with a foot injury after just six appearances. He averaged 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks this past season, showcasing his upside.
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There is still time for the Knicks to make another acquisition at center and that is the expectation moving forward. They have recently been connected to Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons, and Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets. The team could have a slightly different look if they make a move on a key center, but for the moment, they still maintain one of the most exciting starting fives in the game, not to mention essential depth pieces coming off the bench.