Some members of the New York Knicks are petitioning for Trey Burke to be called up from the NBA G League, but there’s an obstacle to overcome.
Against all odds, the New York Knicks managed to strike a balance between veteran prowess and long-term potential at the point guard position. Jarrett Jack has paced New York through games with his leadership, and Frank Ntilikina has flashed his unique two-way potential in relief.
As the point guard rotation begins to show chinks in the armor, some members of the organization are of the belief that the answer could be residing in Westchester.
New York began the 2017-18 NBA regular season at 17-14, but has since lost seven of its past eight games. Many are pointing to the point guard position as a reason why, stating that the Knicks need a penetrating player who can break an opposing defense down.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, some within the organization believe the answer could be found by calling up Trey Burke from the NBA G League.
"The Knicks’ offense is floundering and there’s a desire from some in the organization to call up their G-League star Trey Burke, a source told the Daily News. However, there’s also a big obstacle to such a move — the team would need to create a roster spot."
It’s a development that many fans have been waiting to see, but the complication is one that will test New York’s short-term vision.
By calling up Burke, who was selected at No. 9 overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, New York would need to cut a player from the active roster. That decision would likely come down to veteran point guards Jarrett Jack and Ramon Sessions.
Burke is a dynamic talent who’s having an explosive season in Westchester, but both Jack and Sessions are veteran leaders for a young team in need of guidance.
One simply can’t overlook the fact that Burke is currently averaging 27.1 points, 5.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 2.7 three-point field goals made per game on a slash line of .493/.414/.831.
Those explosive numbers imply that Burke could come to New York and help provide a seemingly necessary scoring boost from the point guard position. With Tim Hardaway Jr. out of the lineup, the Knicks’ backcourt production has suffered.
If Burke plays his aggressive style as a scorer and facilitator, and Ntilikina maintains his intriguing rate of development, however, New York would have two dynamic young players to build with.
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The question is: Will the New York Knicks pull the trigger on calling up 25-year-old point guard Trey Burke from the NBA G League?