Knicks guard Alec Burks recently underwent foot surgery, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link), who reports that Burks is expected to be available for the start of training camp in the fall.
The procedure was completed shortly after the Knicks’ season ended in the spring, a source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (Twitter link). Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link), confirming Katz’s report, also hears from a source that Burks is expected to be ready to go for the start of the 2022-23 season.
Burks has missed time in past seasons due to foot issues, but they didn’t prevent him from appearing in a career-high 81 games for the Knicks in 2021-22 — he missed just a single game in December for personal reasons. His field goal percentage dipped to a career-worst 39.1 percent, but he was otherwise solid, averaging 11.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 3.0 APG with a .404 3PT percent in 28.6 minutes per contest.
Burks will be entering the second season of a three-year, $30M deal he signed with the Knicks in the 2021 offseason. The third year of that contract is a team option, so the veteran guard, who will turn 31 next month, is essentially on an expiring deal.
Multiple reports this offseason, including at least two this week, have identified Burks as a strong candidate to be traded. New York is in the market for a starting point guard and may move Burks either in a trade for that player or to help clear salary cap space to sign one in free agency.
It is unclear how significantly the status of Burks’ foot will impact his value on the trade market, but it’s safe to assume any team acquiring him would want to get a look at his medicals before signing off.
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