Fear not! If the Dallas Mavericks want Jalen Brunson back, they’ll get him

The Dallas Mavericks just enjoyed their best postseason since that improbable 2011 run the ended in an NBA Championship. With this recent success come higher expectations for next season and therefore higher stakes in free agency this summer.

The biggest task at hand is figuring out what to do with free agent Jalen Brunson.

To say Jalen Brunson broke out this season is a massive understatement. Brunson’s numbers ballooned from 12.6 points and 3.5 assists in the 2020-21 season to 16.3 points and 4.8 assists in the 2021-22 season. His playoff impact went from massive liability in 2020-21 to enormous asset in 2021-22.

Understandably his price tag on the market went from nice complementary piece/role-player in 2020-21 to star (of the second fiddle variety) and possible budget buster.

If the Mavericks really want Jalen Brunson back in Dallas, they should have no problem getting a deal done.

Brunson’s contract has been the talk of town all season and his stellar play down the stretch only added fuel to the fire. Multiple NBA teams have not-so-subtly expressed interest in the 6-foot-1 guard and seem to be both willing and able to pony up the needed cash.

The Dallas Mavericks have not-so-subtly expressed their interest as well. Even (per DMN) calling him their “top priority.”

"“We want to re-sign him,” Nico Harrison said. “He knows that we want him back. He’ll be a big part of our future.”"

Brunson himself has been adamant about returning to the Dallas Mavericks. He seems invigorated by the Mavs run to the Western Conference Finals and seems hungry to build on what Jason Kidd started in this new era of Mavs ball.

For the first time since the title run the Mavs are up against the cap with Brunson pushing them deep into luxury tax territory. But with roughly a decade of operating within the parameters of the budget, Mark Cuban seems ready to flex his bank account and do what’s needed to run back the roster.

Just like you and me, players work for money. We all want to be happy with our employer but if a better paying offer comes around, comfort and preference often takes a backseat. To put it bluntly, if the Mavericks aren’t willing to put out the best offer, they shouldn’t expect Brunson to come back.

The good news is Mark Cuban has already told us he’s at a financially advantageous position by saying, “we can pay him more than anybody.” Cubes didn’t say that just for the heck of it. If he wasn’t willing to do that, he wouldn’t have said it. That should tell us all the odds of Brunson returning are pretty good right now.

The thing to keep in mind is the ever-changing atmosphere in the NBA. The Mavericks, and Cuban in particular, have notoriously been caught with a wondering eye. They never heard the “bird in hand” thingy, and aren’t afraid to roll the dice on longshot upgrades.

Could Dallas muck this up and downgrade Brunson from “top priority” to “back-up plan?” Sure, their track record indicates that’s possible. If Zach LaVine says he wants to be a Mav, will Dallas risk their relationship with Brunson by talking sign-and-trade?

We don’t know what will happen, but what we do know is the Mavericks can offer more than anyone else and Brunson seems to sincerely want to come back. That means if they want Brunson back – they’ll get him back.

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So what say you? Do the Mavs want Brunson back?