Alec Burks has performed poorly since he’s been traded to New York. Did the Knicks make a mistake trading for him?
The additions of Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic at the trade deadline was seen as a huge win for the Knicks. They acquired two players that can help with the scoring issues off the bench. Now, Bogdanovic has given the Knicks some solid production off the bench. On the other hand, Burks has really struggled to find a groove.
Since his arrival to New York, Burks has averaged 9 PPG while shooting 31.4 % from the field and 32.4 % from behind the arc. Plus, Burks hasn’t scored in double figures in the last four games while also shooting a combined 9/32 from the field. Occasionally, players do go through rough offensive stretches but Burks just seems to be lost on the court and has been poor with his shot selection. Due to the recent injuries on the team, the Knicks need Burks to be an effective scorer. There’s still time for him to turn things around but with the way he has played so far, it makes you think that maybe Burks wasn’t the right guy to trade for.
The McBride Effect
The addition of Burks has taken away from Miles McBride’s growth, who seemed to be coming into his own since the departure of Immanuel Quickley. Burk’s veteran presence at the guard position seemed to be ideal but maybe it’s taking away from what McBride can potentially do for this team.
Mcbride has been getting minutes due to the Knicks injury issues but once everyone (hopefully)returns right before the playoffs, there’s a chance that McBride can fall out of the rotation. Coach Thibodeau will more than likely stick with Burk’s as the postseason approaches which can potentially be a big mistake. McBride’s defensive effort and shooting ability can be pivotal down the line, which is something that will be limited if Thibodeau sticks with Burks inefficiency. Ultimately, the addition of Burks might be shunning away what McBride can bring to the table, which will only hurt the Knicks in the postseason.
Flip the Script
The good news for Burks is that he still has time to right the ship before the postseason. Recently, Knicks fans haven’t been too fond of Burk’s production and have been vocal about it on social media
Even though Burk’s hasn’t played well, he still has the capability to be the productive scorer the Knicks need off the bench. When it comes to a player like Burk’s, patience is key. He’s a streaky scorer that will have stretches that are good and bad. Hopefully, he can turn it around and provide the offensive help the Knicks desperately need at this point in time. He has the time to make things right but this needs to happen sooner rather than later.
In the end, as of now, the addition of Alec Burks is looking like something the Knicks could regret. We’ll see if Burks can prove doubters otherwise. Only time will tell.
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