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

[cow]

I don’t view this argument as shaky at all. But it seems to overlook that the Mavs could’ve signed him (possibly) in that same price range and then traded him down the road for something of similar value with better fit.

For the very reason that he isn't afforded the same opportunity, I'd guess the Mavs would have had to pay him significantly more that what New York offered him which the MBT probably should have done.  Let's say $120-140m would have got him to stay.  I'm not sure that's super attractive for a lot of teams as we really don't know what the demand for Jalen was outside of New York, but even at an overpay, like you said, he'd be a nice centerpiece to a trade that you could attach your first round picks to in order to grab your second star.