The Dallas Mavericks were in a bit of a predicament after Willie Cauley-Stein announced that he would opt-out of playing the remainder of the season, as he and his girlfriend are currently expecting the birth of their son in July.
That’s why they quickly got on the phone to find a guy capable of helping them carry the load in the Orlando bubble and make another unlikely and heroic run at the NBA Finals.
So, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that they reached an agreement with former Philadelphia 76ers point guard Trey Burke until the end of the season:
Free agent guard Trey Burke has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks for the rest of the season, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2020
Burke was a national sensation during his time at the University of Michigan but he’s struggled to find that same kind of success in the NBA. He was drafted 9th overall by the Utah Jazz but couldn’t hold on to a starting spot and has bounced around the league ever since.
Trey has also played for the Wizards, Knicks, 76ers, and had a brief first stint with the Dallas Mavericks, so he’s already familiar with Rick Carlisle’s ways and style.
His offensive talent has never been in doubt. He’s a scoring machine that can get buckets in no time but his defensive woes and lack of improvement as a playmaker have stalled his development thus far.
Throughout his career, Burke has averaged 10.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 three-pointers, and 0.6 steals per game on 41/34/79 shooting splits.
The Mavericks will have to waive one of their 15 players to open up a roster spot for Burke but he’ll provide a much-needed offensive boost of the bench with Jalen Brunson reportedly unavailable to play after going through shoulder surgery in mid-March.
