The New York Knicks have lined themselves up to pursue Jalen Brunson in free agency and there is "a growing resignation" among the Dallas Mavericks that they will lose him, writes Marc Stein of Substack. The concern is that the Knicks have become Brunson's "top choice and his inevitable destination."

Tim Cato of The Athletic reports that Brunson leaving the Mavericks for the Knicks "at this point, [is] seen as a certainty."

The Mavericks twice passed on the opportunity to sign Brunson to a four-year, $55 million extension. Brunson will likely sign for approximately twice that amount in free agency.

Brunson was a second round pick out of Villanova in 2018.