BRUNSON BURNER: to NYK for 4yrs/$104M (no SnT) | NYK docked 2025 2nd for tampering

[cow]

This is great stuff.

After seeing what JB did against UTA in the playoffs without Luka, I started to believe he would leave. It's ironic because I wanted to trade him before I saw that....then I saw it and 100% wanted to keep him, but seeing that might have ruined the chances of keeping him. And to your point, DAL should be willing to match/outbid anything NYK decides to offer. 

But even with DAL doing that I am not sure it is enough for him to stay. DAL is not an overwhelming title favorite with JB staying. Getting back to the WCF is not a given (and most of that lies at the feet of Luka's growth IMO). 

Hearing Stein on this and thinking through it soberly I think JB is a coin toss situation, 50-50 this could easily go either way. And if I was forced to choose a favorite I would lean toward NYK despite the reporting of Fischer (who I think is REALLY good, but I don't think JB's teammates honestly know what he is going to do).

I'd still put us in the driver's seat.  60/40 or 70/30.  I do think Jalen has a sense of loyalty.  

I think Cuban could mess the situation up and i wouldn't totally blame him if he had a number in mind that he isn't willing to go over.  My hope is Nico has a big enough voice and that they realize that the situation kind of has the team over a barrel with their CAP and asset situation.  Jalen, even overpaid, is a guy you can include in trying to get your upgraded second star and almost any receiving team would be happy to have in return.