Reviewing all of the transactions the New York Knicks accomplished in 2018.
The New York Knicks had a down 2018. They struggled to win games, lost key players to injury, still do not have Kristaps Porzingis around and entered 2019 with the NBA’s second-worst record, including just two December wins.
Through it all, the Knicks made changes to their roster via signings and trades. Some moves delivered a grander impact than others, even though the front office did not acquire any superstars in 2018.
So, let’s look back at the year that was in free agency and trades for the Knicks in 2018. This will not include players that were waived or draft picks.
Knicks sign Trey Burke
All the way back in January 2018, the New York Knicks signed Trey Burke to an NBA contract, calling him up from the G League’s Westchester Knicks. That resulted from averaging 26.6 points in 26 games, in a trial run which allowed him a career resurrection.
The Knicks gave Burke a two-year deal, but with just $100 of his 2018-19 salary guaranteed after July 10, 2018, so he had to play exceptionally well to stick around and earn about $1.795 million next season.
Burke delivered on that in 36 games and nine starts, averaging 50.3 percent shooting and 36.2 percent on three-pointers, both of which were career-highs. 12.8 points per game matched his largest output that happened twice, in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Of course, the Michigan product earned his way onto the team in 2018-19, and he even opened as the starting point guard, but it lasted just five games, due to head coach David Fizdale’s frequent rotation changes.
Burke has played in 25 of 38 games, missing 13 due to injury or via coach’s decision. Most recently, it has been the latter, as Emmanuel Mudiay emerged as the starting point guard and clogged minutes for the sixth-year man and Frank Ntilikina.
The numbers have not matched 2017-18, either, with 40.7 percent shooting on 11.0 points and suspect defense, partially attributed to his 6-foot-1 frame.
It’s difficult to fault this deal, given how inexpensive Burke’s contract is on the payroll. The full-season run has not been spectacular, but, in flashes, he may have proved enough for the Knicks to receive draft pick compensation in a pre-trade deadline deal.