Utah Jazz, Alec Burks Extension Mutually Beneficial

By Ryan Aston @mrmarykateolsen on October 31, 2014

Just ahead of tonight’s deadline for reaching agreement on an early contract extension, Alec Burks and the Utah Jazz have come to terms on a four-year, $42 million deal.

Earlier this week, the team and power forward Enes Kanter (who was also eligible for an extension) decided to table their negotiations, which will make the big man a free agent this offseason. Meanwhile, for Burks and the Jazz, the extension has the potential to be a great deal for both sides.

Coming into the league as a rookie, there were concerns about Burks’ ability both to shoot the ball and also to play with teammates in a system. At Colorado, he was the focal point of the offense and one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the program. In the NBA, he would have to learn to work within the team concept and improve his shooting mechanics to achieve success. Both endeavors remain a work in progress, but recent returns provide reason to be encouraged about Burks’ future prospects and the terms of his new deal.

Last year, Burks connected on 35 percent of his three-point attempts. It was a respectable number, but the team would like him to shoot more and connect at a higher clip. The result through the first two games this season is a step in the right direction, as the guard has knocked down four long balls in seven tries. His new-found shooting prowess combined with the ability to get to the basket that has been innate in his game throughout his career has helped Burks pace his team with 16.5 points per game.

If he can maintain this level of performance, four years and $42 million may seem like a bargain for Utah, especially given the evolving financial situation of the league. For Burks’ part, the deal also reportedly includes incentives that could net him another $3 million. If coach Quin Snyder‘s offensive scheme continues to work for him at the current clip, that could be $3 million in the bank.

There remains reason to be cautious; Burks’ shooting has been great in the regular season, but in exhibition play he struggled to shoot from distance and in the mid-range. It’s hard to know what value to place on such a small sample size. There’s also the chance that, as coaches rein him in and get the ball moving around more, he flounders without the rock.

Nonetheless, as it stands now, Burks is showing his potential as a player and the Jazz offense is seeing the benefits. Extensions are hard to come by, but Burks and the Jazz have theirs in tow and it could be a winning move for both the player and the team.

Ryan Aston covers the Utah Jazz for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @MrMaryKateOlsen or add him to your network on Google.