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Utah Jazz: Why It’s Time For Trey Burke to Ask For a Trade

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Oct 18, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (left) is guarded by Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (right) during the first quarter of the NBA preseason game at Moda Center in the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (left) is guarded by Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (right) during the first quarter of the NBA preseason game at Moda Center in the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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If you feel bad for Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke, then it’s justified because what is happening to him in Utah is inexcusable and it’s time to sever ties with the organization.

Rookie point guard Raul Neto got the start on Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons. If you’re saying “Who?” then it’s ok. Neto’s a rookie point guard from Brazil who got drafted in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft. Neto also had no NBA experience and he still managed to get the start over Burke, a player who has been a starter on the team for the better part of the last two seasons. It was a surprise to almost everyone watching the game and even ESPN had Burke listed as the starting point guard on their depth chart.

To make matters worse, Burke’s from Michigan and was playing in a homecoming game so-to-speak against the Pistons. It’s plain to see that it’s time for Burke to start looking for a new NBA home. If Burke’s going to have to suffer through his career as a backup, why not play backup for a better team?

Since the Jazz have an affinity for European point guards that can’t shoot well and play average defense, why not trade Burke to the Clippers for Pablo Prigioni? The Clippers need a point guard who can spell Chris Paul and the Jazz seem to love below average point guards in their starting lineup.

Oct 28, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Steve Blake (22) guards Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Steve Blake (22) guards Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Quin Snyder as a basketball coach has one of the brightest minds in the game, but it looks like he’s overcomplicating the game. Burke was better than ever this preseason; in the seven games he played, he led the Jazz in scoring (15.3 points per game) while shooting 50% from the floor.

People can talk about fits, and say that Neto plays better defense (which we still don’t know if that’s true). Or they can say how Neto’s a pass-first point guard who gets others involved, which is fine. However, basketball at the end of the day is about putting the ball in the hoop. How does someone who led the team in scoring in the preseason, and someone who averaged double figures last season come off the bench for two international rookies with no experience in back to back seasons?

What does Snyder have against Burke and how is he not starting at point guard? For the second straight year, we get to see a below average rookie point guard start over Burke for no justifiable reason.

During an interview with Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune, Snyder said this about his decision.

“It has nothing to do with any type of judgment about who’s a better player,” Snyder said. “We should introduce the whole team, and then it wouldn’t even be an issue.”

In addition, in an interview with Aaron McMann of Michigan Live, Snyder said this.

"“There’s no one that’s had a better preseason than Trey Burke. If we were just comparing who’s played well, he’s been one of our best players. The thing that is most exciting to me is that he’s done it well defensively as well, and the second thing is he’s all in."

If that’s the case and Burke’s been a better player then why isn’t he starting, Snyder?

It’s fine to have firepower off of the bench when your team is stacked. The Oklahoma City Thunder have to play Enes Kanter and Dion Waiters off the bench because their team has so many scorers. The Miami Heat have to play Justise Winslow and Gerald Green off of the bench because their team has so many scorers. The Cleveland Cavaliers will eventually have to play J.R. Smith, and Mo Williams off of the bench because their team has so many scorers.

Utah doesn’t have that many scorers.

The Jazz averaged 95.1 points per game, good enough for the fourth-worst in the league last year. They might love to play defense because it’s the calling card of the team, but their problem isn’t defensively, it’s offensive. Having a point guard on the roster who can score 20 points in a game and giving him the role to come off the bench and only play 16 minutes is a laughable decision. It’s a decision that also cost Utah an easy victory against a Detroit Pistons team who won’t make it to the playoffs. During the game, Utah only finished with 87 points and lost by five points. Burke only shot the ball twice.

To paraphrase Kanye West’s College Dropout track, Spaceship “This job can’t help them, so I quit y’all welcome.” It’s looking more and more like Burke’s time in Utah is slowly coming to an end and like it was for Kanter, it could be a blessing in disguise.

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