Knicks' Jalen Brunson Off To MVP-Caliber Start
The New York Knicks have only been back in official action for a week, but their star player hasn't lost a step in continuing to backpack the team's scoring attack.
Brunson Off to Hot Start
Jalen Brunson is off to another statistically-proficient start, averaging a career-high 30.3 points per game through the first three games of the NBA's regular season. The Knicks intended on getting him off of the ball more and benefitting from a team offense in which the ball's constantly flinging around the court, but early injuries have placed the pressure right back upon the All-Star to lead the scorers.
Karl-Anthony Towns' sluggish start can be directly attributed to his own sustaining health concerns, while new free agent acquisitions Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson have each struggled mightily to hit the shots they were signed to make. Even if the pieces surround him on the court and in his coachi staff have shifted, Brunson remains one of the NBA's most effective bucketeers, and has already posted numbers towards the top of the league's leaderboards.
Some of Brunson's peers have gotten off to their own hot starts, although not everyone has his pedigree to suggest that they'll all keep averaging 30+. 10 players sit above him in average points per night, and not everyone can be judged the same. Former teammate Luka Doncic may belong atop such a list, but he won't be averaging 46 points for an entire season. And as talented as Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine and Bennedict Mathurin are, they'll likely sink below the 30 mark sooner rather than later.
Early MVP Candidate?
Brunson's numbers have him right in the MVP conversation where he was projected to belong this year, and it's helping his case that he's translating them into wins. His Knicks currently sit at 2-1, as they've beaten everyone they've come across besides the Miami Heat with Brunson returning as the offense's focal point.
It's also worth noting that the Knicks star has left some meat on the bone in accumulating his herculean counting statistics. His 45.3% field goal percentage currently registers as the lowest such figure he's ever posted as a pro, as does his 33% 3-point success despite a career-high nine attempts per night.
That number will likely bounce back to the high-30s, as he's hit on eight of his 18 deep attempts since his inefficient season debut. And while his usage rate and average number of shots are bound to go down, he's still capable of generating as much buckets as the team requires in any given shorthanded situation. Bunson has plenty of competition in capturing the league's top individual award for the regular season, but he's done enough to give himself the early recognition many expected.
Oilers could look up to trade defenseman
In Monday's episode of "32 Thoughts," Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet raised an intriguing point: The
Although fans may speculate on a bigger move, having locked up the likes of Walman and Mattias Ekholm for the future, a fairly less ground-breaking deal could be in order. Ty Emberson, Alec Regula, and Troy Stecher stand as an abundance of depth right handed blueliners, and perhaps, one of them could be on the way out at some point.
If the Oilers emphasize size and youth, Stecher, 31, could be worth monitoring as a possible trade candidate especially with an expiring contract. However, at a sub-$1M cap hit, the veteran brings real value from the right side and can fill in anywhere in the lineup when needed. Meanwhile, Emberson, at just 25, comes in at $1.3M through next season, still affordable, but a name which has floated around in the past. Acquired from San Jose in the Cody Ceci deal, Emberson has been a solid performer, bringing some needed youth to their defense corps. However, if the Oilers seek to bring in a contributing player rather than a more minute return, it may come at the cost of the Wisconsin native.
Finally, Regula is currently on injured reserve, but pending return, could be a trade option simply as he has made the least impact with Edmonton of the bunch. The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers last season, and did not play due to injury, but has skated in two games so far. All things considered, Regula is likely a step behind Stecher and Emberson in the organization, unless the team values his size and sees the former standout Red Wings prospect as a developmental project. GM Stan Bowman seems to like the former Blackhawk, especially as he earned a two-year two-way deal last summer despite not playing at all in the organization.
The Oilers have two veterans with ample NHL experience playing in AHL Bakersfield, Cam Dineen and Josh Brown, both capable players if called upon. Therefore, with all of this in mind, it will be interesting to see what Bowman does when Regula returns, and if the team could seek a forward in return for one of their extra defensemen.
