Would Knicks trading Alec Burks in offseason be a mistake?
New York Knicks fans haven’t been the kindest to Alec Burks this season, but to be honest, he doesn’t deserve all of the blame. He’s been tasked with being New York’s starting point guard, even though it’s not a role that he’s best fit for.
I’m looking at you, Tom Thibodeau. With Derrick Rose injuring his ankle and undergoing surgery, along with Kemba Walker and the Knicks agreeing to a shutdown, all eyes were on Burks.
This season, he’s averaging 11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in the 75 games that he’s played in. Burks is shooting 39% from the field and 39.8% from the 3-point line. He’s averaging 28.1 minutes per game, which is by far the most for him in a full season. His usage rate has shot up with the Knicks.
New York’s needed a true point guard for 20 years now, and while fans have become partial to Immanuel Quickley and Miles McBride, there’s a chance that the Knicks will land one during the offseason. We’ve heard that one before, right? Regardless of if it happens or not, there’s a chance that New York could trade Burks.
Should the New York Knicks trade Alec Burks this summer?
During the Knicks’ current four-game win streak, the 30-year-old is averaging 18.5 points.
In Monday’s 109-104 win against the Bulls, Burks scored 27 points (9-of-19 from the floor, 5-of-10 from the 3-point line) in 42 minutes. Without him (or RJ Barrett, of course), New York would’ve allowed Chicago to prevail behind DeMar DeRozan.
CASH 💰 pic.twitter.com/MDrdyn1V3D
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 29, 2022
Notice how it was Quickley who dished the ball to Burks in the corner for the three. The reason why Burks shone against the Bulls was because he wasn’t forced to be the one to facilitate the offense for the majority of the game.
It’s no secret that he isn’t a true point guard, but is instead known as a shooting guard. If Thibodeau would’ve allowed for Quickley or Miles McBride to play at the one more this year with Burks on the floor as the two, he would’ve seen more success in a role that he’s better fit for.
Understandably, fans have become more attached to him at the end of the season, but the Knicks could have a bustling offseason. For a team that should be building their core around 21-year-old Barrett, players like Burks could be playing their final few games in a New York uniform.
There’s the argument that Burks should come off the bench next season at the No. 2. While I don’t think that would be a bad idea, I think that if the front office can trade for an experienced point guard or another key player, it wouldn’t be detrimental to the team’s future success if Burks were included in a deal.
Unfortunately, his performance was hindered this year, but that was largely because he was thrown out to the wolves by Thibodeau. The storyline surrounding Burks would be different if he wasn’t playing around 30 minutes per night as the point guard.
If he does leave this summer, fans should appreciate his two seasons with the Knicks. A team doesn’t become relevant again overnight and Burks helped to re-lay the foundation.
