Pablo Torre may have opened a new chapter in NBA controversy after uncovering details about a potential $28 million salary cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers’ owner, Steve Ballmer. Now, that same conversation has pulled Mark Cuban and the New York Knicks back into the spotlight.
The Knicks’ 2022 signing of Jalen Brunson already raised eyebrows, but Torre’s latest comments have reignited the debate, and when asked about it, Cuban was blunt but restrictive.
Mark Cuban’s Blunt Take On the Knicks and Jalen Brunson Controversy
During an appearance on Pablo Torre Finds Out, the Mavericks’ minority owner was asked directly whether he believed the Knicks had circumvented the salary cap to lure Brunson away from Dallas.
Cuban didn’t give a clear yes or no, but his tone said plenty.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Think there was a lot at play.”
He added that while the issue was behind him, he still believed the Knicks got off lightly for their actions. “Was I happy they only got dinged for a second-round pick? No,” he said. “Should’ve been far worse.”
That frustration is understandable. Brunson’s departure in 2022 was a major turning point for Dallas. The Mavericks had just reached the Western Conference Finals with him alongside Luka Dončić. A few weeks later, he was gone, signing a four-year, $104 million deal with New York.
The Knicks, who had hired Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, as an assistant coach a month before the signing, were fined a 2025 second-round pick for tampering. For Cuban, that penalty felt like a slap on the wrist.
The Knicks’ decision to hire Rick Brunson before signing Jalen immediately raised concerns that the move might have been designed to skirt salary cap restrictions. Though the NBA concluded its investigation years ago, Torre’s recent remarks have resurfaced old suspicions.
On The Dan Patrick Show, Torre hinted that he’s being urged by what he called “enemies of Jalen Brunson” to dig deeper into how the Knicks structured their deals. He revealed that some believe Brunson left over $100 million on the table to give the Knicks more flexibility in building their roster.
That financial sacrifice paid off for New York. Brunson’s contract helped the Knicks retain OG Anunoby, add Mikal Bridges, and later land Karl-Anthony Towns. The revamped roster went on to make the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Meanwhile, Dallas’ misstep in 2021, when they hesitated to extend Brunson for four years and $55 million, remains one of Cuban’s biggest regrets. It’s a decision that still defines how the Mavericks’ front office is viewed.
Now, with Torre’s investigation stirring the pot again, Cuban’s words remind everyone that the wounds from that saga haven’t fully healed. He might have moved on publicly, but his tone suggests the Brunson situation still stings, not just because of the loss, but because of how it happened.
