The NBA announced that the Knicks would lose their 2025 first-round pick after the LLeagueconcluded its investigation into New York’s signing of Jalen Brunson over the summer. The League said the Knicks cooperated fully with their investigation.
Brunson agreed to a four-year, $104 million contract shortly after free agency began. Brunson has multiple long-standing ties with the franchise, mainly his father, Rick, being hired as an assistant coach during the offseason. Rick Brunson was an assistant on the Bulls and Timberwolves, while Tom Thibodeau served as head coach at both franchises. Thibs coached Rick Brunson as an assistant with the Knicks during Brunson’s playing days.
Rick Brunson was Knicks executive Leon Rose’s first client as an agent. He was also Jalen Brunson’s agent before the Knicks hired him as their president of basketball operations. Rose’s son, Sam, is currently Jalen’s agent.
“This outcome reflected a finding, following an investigation, that the Knicks engaged in free agency discussions involving Jalen Brunson prior to the date when such discussions were permitted,” the NBA said in a statement.
AYO. BRUNSHIM knocking it DOWN
VOTE https://t.co/8hMm0OqLE3 pic.twitter.com/k958actEeL
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 21, 2022
The Knicks still have 11 first-round and nine second-round picks over the next seven years at their disposal to use or trade for a superstar to pair with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
Brunson averaged 20.8 points and 6.2 assists per game and led the Knicks to a League-leading eight straight wins before they lost to the Raptors on Wednesday. The sixth-place Knicks (18-14) play the 76ers on Christmas Day.
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