Should Knicks Re-Sign Veteran Guard?
The New York Knicks are hoping that they can re-sign their top free agents in OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein, but they also have Alec Burks entering unrestricted free agency this summer.
Burks, who turns 33 next month, came to the Knicks in a trade with the Detroit Pistons just before the NBA trade deadline in February. While he was an ancillary piece for the Knicks in the deal, he emerged as a key contributor for the team in its playoff series against the Indiana Pacers when players higher in the depth chart started getting hurt.
In the postseason, Burks averaged 14.8 points per game in six appearances for the team. He scored in double figures in each of the final five games during the series against the Pacers, including 26 in a Game 7 loss.
Burks shot 37.6 percent from distance this past season, proving to be a consistent shooter even as he approaches his mid-30's.
The Knicks could easily go out and get a rookie with one of their first-round picks to replace Burks' contributions. However, Tom Thibodeau isn't a fan of playing rookies, and in a draft that isn't super deep, a late first-round pick can be classified as a second-rounder in other years with better classes.
Burks is a veteran the Knicks can rely on, as evidenced by the fact that New York had him from 2020-22 and traded for him again this past February.
Burks' price in free agency also won't be very high. There's a chance he may even sign for the veteran's minimum, which the Knicks can afford. Even if he costs slightly more, it may be worth it to keep a player like Burks who is familiar with the team and can help in a pinch, much like he did during the playoffs.
The Knicks can negotiate with Burks throughout the week if they choose to do so, but on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, he will be able to talk to other teams and could look to find his new home for his 14th NBA season.
JEREMY BRENER
Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.