Guard Alec Burks’ role with the Miami Heat fluctuated across the 2024-25 campaign. There was a stretch late in the campaign when Burks was a consistent starter for the Heat and added value with his penchant for scoring the ball from 3-point range.
But there were also stretches in the season when Burks would go a week or more without seeing the court for Miami.
Burks is still a free agent on the open market after he spent last season in a Heat uniform, and Heat insider Ira Winderman recently poured cold water on the possibility that the veteran guard will re-sign with the team.
“It does not look that way at the moment, unless there is a trade to open roster space, or unless there is the unlikely decision to stretch and waive a player on the roster to save against the luxury tax (Simone Fontecchio?),” Winderman wrote.
A return to Miami for Burks doesn’t make a ton of sense for him considering the stage he’s at in his pro career. Burks turned 34 years old not long ago, and he may want to play for a contender in the 2025-26 season.
He has yet to win an NBA title in his career, and it’s highly unlikely that his re-signing with the Heat would pay off in Burks earning a championship in 2026.
From the Heat organization’s side of the coin, it also doesn’t seem practical to re-sign Burks and have him rack up playing time — even if it’s sporadic — that could go to members of Miami’s young core instead and aid in their development.
Maybe no longer having Burks on the roster would open up more opportunities for playing time for forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., who saw his role get relegated as a sophomore compared to when he was a rookie.
However, Burks is someone who title contenders should be lining up to add to the fold as a depth piece off the bench, especially after the season he just enjoyed shooting the 3-ball. Across 49 games played with the Heat last season, he shot a career-high 42.5 percent from deep on 4.2 attempts per game.
The Golden State Warriors stand out as an appealing landing spot for Burks. Not only do they have an identity of shooting 3s early and often, but they project to be one of the more formidable teams in the Western Conference in the coming season.