Is Alec Burks the most unlikely Knicks starter to return in 2022-23?
It’s hard to believe that the New York Knicks will have a starting five of Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson in 2022-23. Nothing is a guarantee, but out of the five listed names, Barrett seems to be the only lock for next season.
Or hopefully, New York’s front office isn’t willing to give up Barrett this summer to bring in a big name like Donovan Mitchell, for example. If that happened, it’d set the team back, so the Knicks should be focused on building around Barrett, not getting rid of him.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley listed out one starter that could be traded during the offseason from all 30 NBA teams, and for New York, he listed Burks.
The guard’s name brings up a mixed reaction from Knicks fans. His constant presence in the lineup as New York’s starting point guard was painful, but that was Tom Thibodeau’s fault, not his. He’s best when he plays his position (shocker), which is being a shooting guard.
When he was allowed to play in that role, Burks did well. If he is on the Knicks’ roster next year, he shouldn’t be a starter, but if he isn’t on the roster at all, it wouldn’t be detrimental to the team.
Bleacher Report writer believes Alec Burks won’t be with New York Knicks in 2022-23.
Buckley defended his stance on Burks being the most unlikely starter to be on the team in 2022-23 by writing:
"Why Alec Burks, then? Because he’s a 30-year-old reserve wing who somehow became the Knicks’ starting point guard. Yeah, it was a strange season in the Empire State.Burks is serviceable in an instant-offense role, but he’d be over his skis as a starter even if he was playing the right position. The Knicks badly need a new point guard, and if they can finally get one, Burks can slide back into a bench role (assuming he isn’t sacrificed in a summer trade)."
New York could add another guard in the draft, free agency, or via a trade. The current most popular option among fans is a toss-up between Mitchell and Jalen Brunson. Both guards would come at a cost, and if Mitchell were to request a trade from the Jazz, the Knicks could offer Burks as part of the deal.
Another key part of Burks potentially being traded is Quentin Grimes, who was a first-round pick in 2021. The 21-year-old shooting guard only played in 46 games for the Knicks in 2021-22 due to injuries, and if he has good health, he can be a starter.
Burks re-signed with New York to a three-year, $30 million deal last summer. He’s set to make a little over $10 million next season and a little under $10.5 million in 2023-24.
The 30-year-old started in a career-high 44 games this past year and some teams could be interested in using him as the No. 2 guard in the second unit. He could play that role for the Knicks, but that’ll be up to Thibodeau.
As a young team with several guards, as well as the possibility of adding another guard/s during the offseason, New York can afford to part ways with Burks. But he might not be the only starter who isn’t on the roster in 2022-23…
