Pistons Rumors: Alec Burks $10.5M Contract Option Expected to Be Exercised by Detroit

After officially hiring Monty Williams as their new head coach last week, the first notable roster decision for the Detroit Pistons appears to be keeping Alec Burks.

Per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Pistons are expected to pick up their $10.5 million team option on the 31-year-old's contract for the 2023-24 season.

Burks was mentioned as a potential trade candidate during the season, though NBA insider Marc Stein noted on Feb. 1 another team was going to have to offer the Pistons "quality draft capital" to make a deal.

No trade ever materialized, and Burks finished out the season in Detroit. The Pistons acquired him, along with Nerlens Noel, in a July 2022 trade with the New York Knicks, who were trying to shed some payroll before signing Jalen Brunson.

In an otherwise dismal season for the Pistons, Burks was a standout for them. He averaged 12.8 points per game on 41.4 percent three-point shooting. He missed 31 games, including 17 straight to end the year due to a foot injury.

The 12-year veteran likely would have been a sought-after commodity if he became a free agent because of his shooting touch. He's shot over 40 percent from behind the arc in each of the past three seasons.

The Pistons could still use Burks as a trade piece after they pick up his option, but The Athletic's James Edwards III told Scotto he's viewed as a "good locker room guy."

Detroit has a solid young nucleus to build around with Cade Cunningham coming back after missing 70 games and Jaden Ivey having a promising rookie season. The team is going to add another high-lottery selection with the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

Having a positive veteran presence like Burks in the locker room could be valuable for a young team with a new coach trying to establish an identity.