Jazz will try Burks at the point during summer league

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I’d give it a shot. Especially in summer league – it’s not like Harris, Watson, or Tinsley will be suiting up in Orlando.

Burks is a guy who thrives with the ball in his hands. From what I’ve seen he’s showed good court vision and a willingness to get others involved/make plays for teammates (especially in college). He’d never be a Rondo/Nash/Stockton type floor general. If that’s what you want for this team, he’s not your guy.

But I think he could be effective in the way that guys like Westbrook/Wade/Dragic (sort of) are at the quasi-PG position (i.e., an attack-minded lead ballhandler). If you wanted Burks to play PG, you don’t want to morph him into the floor-general mold, either…doesn’t suit his nature or his skillset.

Where I really like Burks at PG is on the defensive end. 6’6”, 6’10” wingspan, quick as ****, aggressive, cocky as hell…he could become a terror. Real lockdown type.

Except that his biggest weakness on defense last year was fighting through screens. What do PG's do all day? Run through screens. I don't know if Burks can guard quick PG's who use a high amount of screens.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Or it means they are targeting a new PG and shopping Harris

And hopefully saying goodbye to Watson. I loved Earl for 1 1/2 years, then he got that pissy attitude. Bring back Tinsley as the veteran and draft or trade for a new starting PG. Burks gets spot minutes against backups.

Letting Burks play some PG also frees up more time for Hayward to play SG, where he creates mismatches. Now KOC needs to use the MEMO TPE to get a starting SF not named Howard.

 

[Deleted member 365]

Burks cannot guard the quicker PGs in this league.

I also have questions regarding his ability to run on offense.

Then again, none of the current Jazz PGs other than Tinsley have any idea how to run an offense.

 

[Stifle Tower]

I completely agree with this. Burks is a SG. Millsap is a PF. Quit trying to change everybody and find a $%&*@^$ PG and SF. This is a joke.

I don't think it's changing everyone; it's adding different dimensions to the offense. And I don't think the JAzz are saying Burks WILL/SHOULD be the STARTING PG. There are a ton of forwards who play both PF and SF and a number of combo guards. That Utah has never really had a decent combo guard or utilized a swing forward very much doesn't mean they never should. Look how hard it was to find a backup for Stockton or even Deron. No decent PG wants to play 8-10 mins per game. If Burks can play as a BACKUP PG, he could get 20-25 mins per game next season.

Let Burks play 10 mins. as a backup PG and 15 mins at the 2. Then Hayward plays 33 mins at SG. The Jazz would then need to trade for (player OR draft pick) a starting SF. Or if we feel Hayward is a SF, then get another SG. AS for Millsap. he could even play SF for 8-10 mins, then slide over to PF when Favors sits down. That would let him dominate backup PF's.

What the Jazz need to do, IMO, is find 8 core players: 3 guards, 3 forwards and 2 centers. Or if you have a legit 4/5 (Favors perhaps), then you could go with some other combination. There simply aren't enough minutes or $ to have 5 good starters and 5 good backups at every single position.

Jazz have the Memo TPE and the expirings of Jefferson and Harris to find a starting PG, SF (or SG) and a backup C. That's all the team needs. Then you backfill the rest of the roster with cheap vets (like Howard, Tinsley, Evans, etc.) and developmental players.

PG - TBD, Burks, Vet (like Tinsley)
SG - Hayward, Burks
SF - TBD, Millsap, Vet (like Howard)
PF - Favors, Millsap
C - Kanter, Favors, TBD

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I don't think it's changing everyone. It's adding different dimensions to the offense. There are a ton of forwards who play both PF and SF and a number of combo guards. That Utah has never really had a decent combo guard doesn't mean they never should. Look how hard it was to find a backup for Stockton or even Deron. No decent PG wants to play 8-10 mins per game. If Burks can play as a BACKUP PG, he could get 20-25 mins per game next season.

Let him play 10 mins. at PG and 15 mins at the 2. Then Hayward plays 33 mins. The Jazz then trade for (player OR pick) a starting SF. Or, even start Millsap at SF for 8-10 mins, then slide him over to PF when Favors sits down.

What the Jazz need to do, IMO, is find 8 core players: 3 guards, 3 forwards and 2 centers. Or if you have a legit 4/5 (Favors perhaps), then you could go with some other combination. There aren;t even minutes or $ to have 5 good starters and 5 good backups at every single position.

Jazz have the Memo TPE and the expirings of Jefferson and Harris to find a starting PG, SF and a backup C. That's all the team needs. Then you backfill the rest of the roster with cheap vets (like Howard, Tinsley, Evans, etc.) and developmental players.

PG - TBD, Burks, Vet (like Tinsley)
SG - Hayward, Burks
SF - TBD, Millsap, Vet (like Howard)
PF - Favors, Millsap
C - Kanter, Favors, TBD

There is no harm in trying to see if Burks can be a PG. The SL is like an audition. If he does ok/good, then Utah will continue it into training camp. If he passes that test, give him some backup minutes. If he passes that, eventually let him start.

 

[theNBAnerd]

i think the right now version of burks is an emergency PG at best. he also could play some PG in bigger lineups as long as there was another ball handler with him to take the pressure off him -- like hayward.

but back to what this means, i see a couple possibilities.

1) harris is on the block
2) they're targeting a PG in the draft and want to know they have a third point guard before cutting ties with earl/jamaal
3) they're NOT targeting a PG in the draft, so they want to see if they can count on a PG lineup of harris/watson/burks
4) it means absolutely nothing on a personnel front and they just want burks to develop a better knowledge of the offense and improve his decision-making

 

[NUMBERICA]

Cool.

 

[mhindy]

If you think Burks is going to become a full time PG, I want some of what you're smoking. They probably want him to play spot minutes here and there and just work on his ball handling and playmaking. Summer league is a good place to do this.

 

[Stifle Tower]

i think the right now version of burks is an emergency PG at best. he also could play some PG in bigger lineups as long as there was another ball handler with him to take the pressure off him -- like hayward.

but back to what this means, i see a couple possibilities.

1) harris is on the block
2) they're targeting a PG in the draft and want to know they have a third point guard before cutting ties with earl/jamaal
3) they're NOT targeting a PG in the draft, so they want to see if they can count on a PG lineup of harris/watson/burks
4) it means absolutely nothing on a personnel front and they just want burks to develop a better knowledge of the offense and improve his decision-making

All of the above.
1) Harris has been on the block since the day he was traded for. KOC nearly flipped him then but ran out of time since the Deron deal was completed right before the cutoff.
2) We know the Jazz eventually need to find a PG. And Watson went from great teammate to cancer near the end of the season. Earl needs to be traded.
3) Well, if the BPA is NOT a PG, and no trades go down, we will be stuck with Harris and Watson...at least until the trade deadline. Then reder back to #2 if Harris' expiring is dealt.
4) Definitely want Burks to improve his skills. He can be a factor, particularly as a 6th man. But his decision-making was questionable last season. Having a PG's knowledge of the offense can only help, even if he plays zero mins at PG in the regular season.

 

[calijazz]

i think the right now version of burks is an emergency PG at best. he also could play some PG in bigger lineups as long as there was another ball handler with him to take the pressure off him -- like hayward.

but back to what this means, i see a couple possibilities.

1) harris is on the block
2) they're targeting a PG in the draft and want to know they have a third point guard before cutting ties with earl/jamaal
3) they're NOT targeting a PG in the draft, so they want to see if they can count on a PG lineup of harris/watson/burks
4) it means absolutely nothing on a personnel front and they just want burks to develop a better knowledge of the offense and improve his decision-making

I'd guess number 4. Trying to develop his versatility and if it happens to be needed down the line so be it.

 

[Coloradojazzfan]

My fantasy Jazz starting lineup is:

1 Burks
2 Hayward
3 Millsap
4 Favors
5 Kanter

Except that is probably all it is... a fantasy. I don't know if would work at all, but I'd like to see it tried. Try it against the total scrub teams! (which I guess would do little to prove anything, but I JUST WANNA SEE IT. That's all.)

 

[cowhide]

When we drafted him I thought Burks could play the PG position, I think it suits his skills better. I remember in training camp everyone talking about how well he passed. I just think the Jazz didn't want to over whelm him considering he was a rookie and didn't have summer league or a regular training camp. I think Burks could be a decent PG and worse case scenario a better backup than Watson and Tinsley.

One thing to remember is that having the ball in Burks hand's is a smart move because of his above average ability to get to the line. I like the idea that the Jazz are trying to maximize their roster.