Burks gives the Heat’s backcourt depth to a group that already includes players Terry Rozier, who the team acquired through trade last season, and Tyler Herro, who was selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft. The 32-year-old has played in the NBA for 13 seasons. He began the previous campaign with the Detroit Pistons and was acquired by the Knicks following the trade deadline.
He played a more limited role with New York after finishing the season with an average of 6.5 points despite being used more due to their numerous injuries in the latter part of the season, even though he had averaged 12.6 points per game with the Pistons in the first half of the season. Burks just concluded a three-year, $30 million contract with the Knicks. However, he was transferred to the Pistons, where he remained until the franchise opted to take a different approach to their rebuilding.
Because the Heat are so near to the dreaded second apron, they are only able to make deals like this in free agency. In addition to Burks, Miami has re-signed players who declined their player options prior to the start of free agency last weekend, including Thomas Bryant and Kevin Love.
Burks’s agreement with Heat benefits them.
As stated by The Miami Herald, “Because he signed a one-year minimum contract, his cap hit is just $2.1 million despite his $3.3 million salary for next season because of NBA rules that lower the cap hit on most one-year minimum deals,” Burks’ contract actually helps the Heat save over a million dollars. The same was true of Bryant’s contract, as he returned to Miami after spending a season there on a minimal one-year deal.
Burks has a buyout option, so the Heat had the opportunity to acquire him at the trade deadline the previous season, but he still provides them with a spark plug who can score whenever they want. One or both of Rozier and Herro, coupled with their large contracts to create room, might be traded with the Heat, depending on how other endeavors go. Rumor has it that there is mutual interest with free agent and Chicago Bulls standout DeMar DeRozan.
In a sense, Burks has seen every aspect of the league since the Utah Jazz selected him out of the University of Colorado with the 12th overall choice in the 2011 NBA Draft. He now plays for the Heat, a squad that is renowned for making the most of its veterans. The Heat will also aim to contend again after reaching the NBA Finals in 2023.
Burks, though, also joins a team that had a 46-36 record and placed eighth for the second consecutive year.
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