Utah Jazz 2015-16 Review: Trey Burke

Despite some high points early on, Trey Burke’s 2015-16 season with the Utah Jazz was ultimately filled with disappointment and frustration.

Background

When the Utah Jazz traded up to nab Trey Burke in the 2013 NBA Draft with the ninth overall selection, the reaction from the Jazz faithful was overwhelmingly positive. Now with three seasons under his belt, many opinions have flipped as Burke’s performance has generated a less than favorable response.

In three years with the Jazz, Burke has averaged 12.1 points per game on 38.4 percent shooting including 32.9 percent from deep, while logging 4.2 assists. Burke’s lackluster play first began to incite mass disappointment in his second season. After starting 68 of the 70 games he played in during his rookie season, Burke failed to increase his points per game average while seeing his field goal and three-point percentages drop in year two.

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Despite the immense amount of trust that was placed in him in his rookie season and the opportunity for improvement allowed him in his second year, Burke failed to capitalize and was promptly replaced in the starting lineup by Dante Exum about midway through the season.

However, this replacement wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as Burke actually played much better as a reserve than he had as a starter. Off the bench in the 2014-15 season, Burke averaged 13.2 points per game (compared to 12.5 as a starter) and shot 33.2 percent from beyond the arc (compared to 30.5 percent as a starter) all while logging about five less minutes per game.

This improvement in a “sixth man” type of role seemingly set the stage for him to potentially have a strong 2015-16 campaign. However, this didn’t end up to be the case.

2015-16

Even with Exum’s injury, it still seemed in the Jazz’s best interest to have Burke come off the bench behind Raul Neto. Burke actually got off to a sizzling start to begin the year. In the month of November he averaged 10.6 points per game at a 43.6 percent field goal percentage clip and a red-hot 44.7 percent from deep.

In the following month of December, his points per game shot up to 14.2 despite similar shooting from the field (43.3 percent) and much lower accuracy from deep (31.4 percent).

Unfortunately, from this point on, Burke’s efficiency and scoring decreased significantly, a fact that was worsened by the addition of Shelvin Mack at the trade deadline. Once Mack took over as the starter and Neto slid to the second unit, Burke all but saw his minutes disappear. Burke didn’t log a game in the month of April and in nine games played in the month of March shot a dismal 38.2 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from deep.

It was a shame to see Burke’s starting spot and, eventually, his minutes completely disappear, particularly after a commendable start to the season shooting the ball. However, despite the shooting woes that eventually set in, what ultimately did him in were his struggles on the defensive end. For the year, Burke posted a defensive rating of 102.9 while Neto finished with a rating of 99.7.

As the the season wore on, the large gap between the two players’ defensive performances clearly showed who was the superior defender.

In the months of February, March and April, Neto posted defensive ratings of 97.2, 95.1 and a suffocating 90.5 respectively. Meanwhile Burke in January, February and March (again he didn’t appear in a game in April) put up defensive ratings of 97.5, 100.2 and an abysmal 111.1.

Burke’s downward fall hit an excruciating low in March when he posted a minus-13.2 net rating.

While Neto’s defense was knowingly superior to Burke’s, Neto surprisingly turned out to be a more efficient shooter, especially from deep. Neto finished the season shooting 39.5 percent from behind the arc, including 47.8 percent in February and 48.5 percent in March. Neto’s impressive improvement and Mack’s overall superior talent coupled with Burke’s staunch downturn in efficiency pushed him out of the rotation for good.

Nevertheless, credit Burke for being a complete professional throughout the season. Despite having every reason to whine or complain, Burke accepted his role throughout the year, never once slandering the team or the organization (unlike someone we know, cough, Enes Kanter, cough, cough). Sorry, it’s allergy season.

Burke never showed any signs of slacking off or not putting in work or effort. He never butted heads with his teammates or the coaching staff. He never turned to social media to throw anyone under the bus.

Despite potential frustration in his level of play, no Jazz fan can speak ill of Burke’s effort and loyalty to the team in what must have been a difficult 2015-16 campaign or him.

The Future

At the end of the day, it isn’t the attitude or dedication that solidifies your spot on the team, it’s the performance. And with Shelvin Mack, Raul Neto and a healthy Dante Exum all ahead of Burke on the depth chart, it seems that Burke’s role on the team has all but come to an end.

As the Jazz look to make significant improvements this summer via trades or addition by subtraction, expect Burke to be one of the first to go.

Nevertheless, by no means does this mean that the young guard’s NBA career is over. While his lack of size and defensive prowess ultimately led to him not being much of a fit on this squad, Burke’s natural shooting talent could still be a valuable weapon an another team that is looking to add some scoring punch.

His streaky shooting isn’t beyond repair and his solid personality and work ethic should make him an attractive piece to other teams in the league.

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At this point, Burke will be of most help to the Utah Jazz if he can make up a significant portion of a trade package that brings in a veteran point guard or other much-needed player from another team’s roster.

If the Jazz can find the right fit for Burke elsewhere in the league while bringing in a piece that benefits their own squad, it will be a win-win for all. After an up-and-down three years with the Jazz, Burke’s career will benefit greatly from a fresh start on a new team.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com/stats