The New York Knicks are doing everything they can to clear some cap space this offseason so that they can become buyers on the free agent market. They got things underway during the 2022 NBA Draft when they parted ways with Kemba Walker.
New York agreed in principle to a deal that will send Walker to the Detroit Pistons as part of a trio of moves the team made in the evening. They also completed trades with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets. All in all, the Knicks came away with three future first-round picks while trading away Walker, the No. 11 overall pick and four second-rounders.
That was the first step in having at least $25 million in cap space, which the Knicks are expected to use on a point guard. Jalen Brunson of the Dallas Mavericks is considered their No. 1 target.
To get to that number, they will have to trade away another player or two. One player that has consistently been mentioned in trade rumors is Alec Burks.
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Burks signed a three-year deal worth just over $30 million as a free agent in 2021 following a successful first season in New York. What makes that deal so unique is that the final season is a team option, so anyone acquiring him this offseason would be getting what is essentially an expiring contract.
There have been a few teams linked to Burks already this offseason and you can now add another one to the mix. According to SNY.tv, the Boston Celtics are one of the teams showing interest in Burks.
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Boston has a trade exception that was created last year when the Knicks signed Evan Fournier in free agency and the Celtics turned the deal into a sign-and-trade transaction. Burks would easily fit into that as he is set to earn $10 million this season.
It should come as no surprise that Boston has some interest in Burks. Their roster is pretty strong top to bottom, but they could use some help in the backcourt and on the wing. Those are both spots that Burks has shown he can play well, as he is a natural wing but was the starting point guard for a majority of the 2021-22 season.
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He would present a big upgrade to the second unit as someone that can soak up minutes behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Ime Udoka didn’t use a real wing player off the bench, as Grant Williams, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard more or less made up the reserves.
Trading Alec Burks and taking back no salary would put the New York Knicks just under $25 million to spend. That number also includes waiving Taj Gibson.
