Earlier this week, SNY’s Ian Begley reported that the Knicks have significant interest in Alec Burks.
A former Knick, Burks is the easiest fit for a potential trade. He has an expiring $10.4 million contract and the Knicks must send $5.4 million in salary in a trade. The Knicks can send Evan Fournier’s $19 million salary and hire Burks and another player like Kevin Knox to match the salaries.
Burks is a sure acquisition. He won’t cost Quentin Grimes’ significant haul and New York’s collection of first-round picks. Burks has been one of the most consistent isolation scorers in the NBA in recent years and has shot at least 40 percent from the three-point line over the past four seasons.
The 32-year-old started at point guard for much of the 2021-22 season with the Knicks, but he’s better off in a more complementary role where he can create shots for himself. With a slow start this season in Detroit, Burks has been heating up as of late. In January he scored 34 and 33 goals, averaging 19.3 points off the bench this month.