5 Players the Sacramento Kings could sign if Malik Monk walks in free agency
By Mat Issa
Alec Burks
When Alec Burks first got traded to the New York Knicks at the 2024 Trade Deadline, he had a hard time earning Head Coach Tom Thibodeau's trust. Burks logged a DNP-CD (did not play, coach's decision) in seven of the team's last 12 regular season games.
That trend continued through the Knicks' first seven postseason games until injuries forced Thibodeau to re-insert Burks back into the lineup. From there, Burks made sure to seize the moment, averaging 14.8 PPG on 69.4% true shooting in New York's final six postseason games.
Burks is a significantly worse passer (47th percentile in assist percentage) than Monk (94th percentile assist percentage) or even Morris (see last slide). However, what he lacks in playmaking chops he makes up for with his shooting (career 38.3% 3-point shooter) and bucket-getting (85th percentile in scoring volume) abilities.
At the end of the day, like Morris, this would be a clear downgrade from Monk. But again, you have to factor in the discount they'll be getting by replacing Monk with Burks and how those savings could help the team elsewhere.