Does Trey Burke's NBA Career Depend on Huge Step Forward This Season?

Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke had a decent rookie year. It was nice. Average. So-so. And that might be a problem. 

A "nice" or "decent" rookie year would have been fine had Burke's ceiling been a little bit higher. That would have allowed for more patience, knowing there'd be a bigger potential reward to chase, and that the chase would require some time. 

But without standout athleticism or sharp physical tools, I'm not sure how much room there is left for the soon-to-be 22-year-old Burke to grow. 

That was the knock on Burke out of college—he lacked upside, given his size (5'11.75" in socks), slender frame and under-the-rim burst. You wondered just how much more dangerous Burke could get—which is why it's somewhat of a problem that he wasn't a little better last year. 

He was supposed to be, thanks to his polished offensive skills and admirable maturity. It was what made many consider him a safe pick, something that helped a team like the Jazz overlook his perceived limited long-term potential.

But after shooting just 38 percent from the floor and 41 percent on his two-point attempts, we're no longer just questioning his long-term outlook—now we're questioning his fit and place in the NBA game. 

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

Burke's lack of standout athleticism always concerned scouts, as ESPN's Chad Ford wrote (subscription required) back in 2013. And based on the areas of the game where Burke struggled last season, it seems that the concerns they had were fair. 

He shot a disastrous 44.7 percent within eight feet of the rim last year, via NBA.com. And Burke isn't getting any longer or more athletic. 

Without the jets to extend his hang time or the frame to play through contact, finishing in the paint or traffic might not be a fixable flaw in his makeup. 

It's just one example of an area of the game in which Burke could be doomed. Defense may be another. 

Burke put up a poor agility time at the combine—twenty-six prospects registered better ones, including eight point guards and two combo guards. 

It shouldn't have been much of a surprise that Burke got abused as a pick-and-roll defender last season, as noted by Jody Genessy of DesertNews.com.

He's an easy target for opposing point guards and screeners. And it's just hard to picture that changing. Regardless of how hard he works at it, this is another area of the game you fear might stick around no matter what. 

"Especially his pick and roll defense," coach Quin Snyder told Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune, referring to improvements Burke must make. "It starts with Trey, and he’s got to be able to stop people. The league is full of great point guards, so he’s going to have to be on top of his game every night."

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

While Burke proved he belonged as a guard in this league—he did average 12.8 points and 5.7 assists—his limitations led to offensive inefficiency and defensive ineffectiveness. And both will be tough for him to overcome moving forward.

In terms of his value to the franchise, this is a huge year for Burke, who could find himself in serious trouble if he doesn't make any strides as an NBA sophomore. 

He's now got Dante Exum breathing down his neck—the talented rookie point guard whose ceiling towers over everyone's in Utah's backcourt. At 6'6" and 19 years old with effortless athleticism, Exum has plenty of room for improvement and some monster potential to reach.

However, with Burke in the lineup, Exum will almost always be forced to slide out of position off the ball.

What if Burke fails to make the sophomore jump? How long do the Jazz continue jeopardizing Exum's development (on a guy who's ceiling is capped) by limiting his playmaking opportunities?

The Jazz could have some important decisions to make after the season with regard to how they plan on building this rotation. With Exum lurking, an underwhelming year from Burke might make him a strong trade candidate before the team is forced to decide whether to extend him and invest long-term. 

Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

Of course, we're not completely writing Burke off. We did see a number of positives, from his pick-and-roll game and ball security to his threatening mid-range jumper. 

The question is whether or not his glaring weaknesses will prevent him from taking the next step and emerging as a winning NBA starting point guard. 

Otherwise, based on his limitations, Burke could be looking at a similar career path as D.J. Augustin's—another lottery point guard who entered the NBA with similar limitations, and one who's now found himself being passed around the league as a serviceable backup. 

I'm not going to jump to any conclusions after one NBA season. But I will after two. If Burke plateaus in 2014-15 by struggling with the size and athleticism of the game once again, his value to the team, as well as around the league, could take a significant hit.