Clearing cap space to attempt to sign Jalen Brunson as a free agent in the coming days is a solid, if unspectacular, starting point for the Knicks’ summer (assuming the Mavericks point guard agrees to a deal, as many expect).

But transaction season has also brought the oh-so-familiar pangs of disappointment to Madison Square Garden when a dream scenario unfolded in front of the Knicks and just as quickly passed them by this week. A makeable chance to add rising All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to a completely revamped starting backcourt appeared to be in team president Leon Rose’s grasp, yet it was not to be.

Trading away draft picks was the running folly of past front office regimes, but doing so for a well-rounded and reasonably priced standout such as San Antonio’s Murray to play with Brunson would have been that rare no-brainer for the Knicks.

Murray instead was traded on Wednesday to the Hawks, who will pair him with MSG favorite Trae Young in return for three first-round picks (two of them unprotected), a future swap of picks and ex-Knick Danilo Galinari to offset the money.