Pistons Trade Alec Burks to 76ers Rival

The 2023-2024 NBA season was rumored to be a year of potential reunions for the Philadelphia 76ers.

As the Sixers search for deals on deadline day, they’ve been frequently linked to the veteran guard Alec Burks. The Detroit Pistons sharpshooter was once again a popular trade candidate amongst contending teams, and several reports noted that Philadelphia had an interest.

You could say the 32-year-old guard has unfinished business in Philly. Back in 2020, the Sixers made a deadline-day trade for the veteran while he was in the midst of a career year with the Golden State Warriors.

In 48 games, Burks averaged 16 points and three assists while he knocked down 38 percent of his threes. After getting off to a hot start, the Warriors flipped him to the Sixers. Philly hoped Burks would be a notable boost off the bench as they looked to make a deep run in the 2020 playoffs. Unfortunately, they were stopped way short by the Boston Celtics, who swept them in the first round.

Burks’ time in Philadelphia would last 18 regular-season games. During that stretch, he averaged 12 points and two assists while hitting 42 percent of his threes. In the playoffs, Burks averaged 11 points and struggled mightily with his shot, knocking down just 33 percent of his field goal attempts.

Once Burks hit the free agency market, he eyed a new destination and inked a deal with the New York Knicks. His original contract was a one-season deal, which turned into a brand new three-year contract the following summer. Burks would play for the Knicks from 2020 to 2022 before finding himself moved to Detroit two offseason ago.

Once again, the veteran guard was a popular candidate. Playing on a struggling Pistons team, Burks’ numbers are attractive for a win-now roster. In 43 games, he’s averaged 13 points and two assists while knocking down 40 percent of his threes in 21 minutes of action per game.

He won’t be headed back to the City of Brotherly Love, but Burks will get a reunion this season.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons are sending Alec Burks to the Knicks. In exchange, the Pistons are expected to land Quentin Grimes and multiple second-round picks.

Burks boosts the bench backcourt for one of the hottest teams in the league. During his previous run in New York, Burks averaged 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists. He hit 41 percent of his threes across two seasons.