NBA Trades: 5 targets for the Jazz to replace Joe Ingles

NBA Trades: 5 targets for the Jazz to replace Joe Ingles – Alec Burks

The New York Knicks started slow, just as they did last season. However, they’ve even regressed from where they finished last season, falling from fourth in the Eastern Conference to 11th in a more competitive field.

Realistically, they have their sights set on the play-in tournament, although many see the writing on the wall that the team may be sellers, factoring in the great play of their youth and the horrific play of their starting lineup.

Burks has had the most fascinating season for any of the Knicks, originally coming off the bench as a reliable source of offense, and then starting in place of the injured and struggling Kemba Walker.

The 6-6 wing had never really played point guard, especially for New York, but head coach Tom Thibodeau recognized his burst and shooting talent, and believed his size would suit him better for the role. In short, he was inefficient, still capable of producing in on offense, but in no way equipped to be a full-time point guard earning heavy minutes.

The Knicks recently acquired 22-year-old wing Cam Reddish, and many believe the team is trending towards a player shuffle that would theoretically generate more playing time for him.

This paves the way for Burks to be on the table in trade discussions, as long as the offense-deficient Knicks are willing to let go of his production and open the rotation for younger guards.

Burks would provide all the elements of Ingles’ game as a replacement and he was a strong playoff performer. He’s become a terrific shooter off-the-catch and is more than willing to shoot three-pointers off-the-dribble. He’s also a study perimeter defender who can deflect players’ dribbles, and he’s shown this year he can handle the ball when needed to.

The difference between Burks and Ingles is that Burks won’t be all that quiet, because he’s a scorer who plays at his best when he gets shots up, similarly to sixth man Jordan Clarkson.

Ingles, on the other hand, doesn’t need to shoot the ball to make a big impact. This is what separates the two, in that Ingles is a “glue guy” and Burks (11.2 points and 2.6 assists per game, 39.9 percent from deep on 4.7 attempts) is a shot in the arm.

Burks’ average annual salary of $10 million for the next three years is just at the ceiling of what the Jazz can afford through a trade, and it would almost guarantee an exit for the expiring Ingles.

Whether the Jazz want to trade for Burks, another sixth starter, or not really depends on if they want to improve upon Ingles long-term, as opposed to simply finding a one-year quick-fix.