NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks to pass during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden on March 20, 2023 in New York City. The Timberwolves won 140-134. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
3 Knicks who should still be on roster after 2024 trade deadline
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
2: Jalen Brunson
The only way Jalen Brunson would be traded before the deadline would be if the world ended. Even then, the Knicks would do everything they could to keep him on their roster. In all honesty, Brunson is set to be in New York for a long time.
The four-year, $104 million deal he signed in free agency last year was an absolute steal for New York, although it wasn’t labeled as one initially. There were doubts from outsiders about how good he could be for the Knicks, but Brunson defied all expectations. He averaged a career-high 24 points (his previous career-high was 16.3 in 2021-22) to go with another career-best 6.2 assists per game.
Brunson was New York’s best and most consistent player in the playoffs, which shouldn’t have come as a surprise given his success in the postseason when he was in Dallas. In the Knicks’ second-round series against the Heat, where there wasn’t much going right, Brunson was the lone bright spot.
Leon Rose would instead trade any other player than trade Jalen Brunson. The star point guard is the future of New York.
