Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Dallas Can’t Lose Jalen Brunson

The Dallas Mavericks can’t let Luka Dončić’s top gun, Jalen Brunson, walk in free agency.  He was a fundamental cog in the team’s success- the most they’ve had in over a decade.  The outfit finally broke through in the 2022 postseason, winning a pair of rounds and distinguishing themselves as a group to be respected.  If Mark Cuban’s team wishes to build on what they have, he will likely need to overpay Brunson.

Dallas’ coveted free agent is a shifty combo guard approaching his apex.  He earned some stripes torching the Utah Jazz in the first round.  In that span, he averaged 27.8 points on over 48% shooting while spacing the floor and blowing past perimeter defenders for strong drives to the rim that often attracted help.  

In the open court, challengers weren’t fast enough to stay above his hip.  When opponents would go under a teammates screen, Brunson would bury triples on either wing.  Getting iced on pick ‘n’ roll, he still eluded two defenders by attacking the shot blocker for a finish at the cup.  

Brunson’s importance to the rotation cannot be understated. Dallas’ most used five-man lineup in the playoffs consisted of Reggie Bullock, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith, Brunson and Dončić, logging 142 minutes in 15 games.  That same group was also the most utilized in the regular season, totaling 367 minutes in 40 games.   

Losing the team’s secondary playmaker and scorer would be too devastating a blow to recover from immediately.  Dončić would have more responsibilities as the primary ball handler and could be at risk of having dead legs in April from the added workload. 

Brunson, as the decision-maker with Dončić on the court, lets #77 get free in single coverage moving around the perimeter. It also allows Dončić to conserve energy because he’s not catching the same schemes as he does with the ball after crossing halfcourt.

Chemistry built through continuity is vital for a team.  A group must learn how to win together, but they also need to master overcoming the sting of defeat as a unit.  The on-court trust the Mavericks have developed over time paid dividends in the squad’s first season under Jason Kidd as head coach. Eight players returned from the previous campaign, but the team changed its guarding philosophy, and the group finished the year as the seventh-rated defense through 82 games and ninth-best in the playoffs. In 2020/2021, Dallas was 21st in the category for the regular season and 10th in the first round with Rick Carlisle as their instructor.   

The Mavericks were one of the three last teams standing. They are likely a few modifications away from being good enough to win a title.  Perhaps their offense is more potent next season with Tim Hardaway Jr. reintegrated into the lineup to space the floor for cuts by Brunson and Dončić.  Maybe they will orchestrate an essential trade for an effective role player by the February trade deadline.  But it won’t mean anything if they don’t show Brunson the money.

The season may have been one small step for Dončić, but it was a giant leap for the Mavs.

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