Trey Burke, father getting in tune with the Jazz
Rod Beard The Detroit News
For Benji Burke, the dual role of agent-father provided plenty of dramatic moments during last week’s NBA draft.
Burke, who represents his son, former Michigan All-American Trey Burke, said the surprising turn of events — the Pistons passing on the point guard at No. 8, being drafted ninth by the Timberwolves and traded to the Jazz — was an unforeseen whirlwind.
But less than a week later, they’re settling down in Salt Lake City and enjoying themselves.
“It’s unbelievable,” Benji Burke said. “They’re treating Trey like he’s John Stockton. That’s the only way I can put it — it’s overwhelming.
“They love their Jazz. That’s the only show in town that’s that big. They have some minor league stuff, but they’re going to love their Jazz, win or lose.”
Burke said his son will sign a contract in the coming days and begin training camp in Orlando in time to participate in the annual summer league.
Terms of the contract aren’t available, but the rookie salary scale likely will make the contract similar to last season’s No. 9 pick — Pistons center Andre Drummond, who made $2.36 million his first season.
The Jazz look to be an ideal fit for Trey Burke, as their veteran point guards from last season all are free agents. That could open the door for Burke to start, giving him a chance to meld with the young nucleus of Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Gordon Hayward.
“At first, anybody that hears they’re going to Utah, there’s a perception it’s a Mormon town and it’s so far that you’re almost out of the country,” Benji Burke said. “Once you get there, it’s the total opposite. It’s a very nice city, the people there are really nice. ... It’s the opposite of what you think it is.”
Draft 'kind of crazy'
The Burkes got a sense after the Cavaliers selected Anthony Bennett at No. 1 it wasn’t going to be a typical draft.
With Bennett, whom many experts predicted would fall as low as No. 8, gone early, Benji Burke knew that would shake up the first round.
That’s when the uneasiness set in.
“Everybody’s phone was blowing up because it just threw everything off,” Burke said of the Cavaliers pick. “These players were going and somebody had to take a chance on Nerlens (Noel, Kentucky center). It was kind of crazy.”
The Pistons, who had the eighth pick and needed a point guard, looked to be in perfect position to select Trey Burke, the national player of the year who led Michigan to the NCAA title game. In the past three drafts, Detroit selected Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe and Drummond, all of whom were pegged to go higher but fell to the Pistons.
After the Pelicans selected Noel sixth and the Kings took Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore seventh, the stage was set for the Pistons to make their pick.
And they chose Georgia shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Why not Burke?
“We found out a day before that the interest wasn’t there for Trey,” his father said. “I honestly believe that they’re just under so much pressure to win right now that they’re probably going to go with a free agent, an experienced guard.
“They probably didn’t want to spend one or two years waiting on a rookie to develop; they just needed to get something more steady.”
Trey Burke didn’t have to wait long to be picked, though, going No. 9 to the Timberwolves.
“It’s about time,” Burke joked as he walked to the stage and shook hands with NBA commissioner David Stern.
Said Stern: “It was late, but it was worth it. You’re going to do great.”
The drama wasn’t over, though, as the Timberwolves dealt Burke to the Jazz for their 14th and 21st picks.
Need trumps favor
Burke’s father empathized with Pistons president Joe Dumars, who was put into a quandary of drafting a local favorite or sticking to his guns and picking a team need.
Even as they headed to Salt Lake City for Trey Burke’s introductory news conference, Benji Burke said he heard about the controversy in Detroit over the pick.
“We saw that,” he said. “The average fan doesn’t know the details that go into selecting a player. They just think they’re supposed to select a player and that’s it. It’s not that simple.”
Still, Pistons fans were sounding off about what could have been.
“You can’t win,” Benji Burke said. “Social-media people out there are upset and posting stuff; there’s nothing you can do but let it happen.”
But the Burkes don’t hold any ill will toward Dumars or the Pistons.
“It’s business and as good a relationship that Trey has with Joe Dumars and Jordan (Dumars, Joe’s son and a member of Burke’s business-management team), this has nothing to do with relationships,” Burke’s father said. “People thought (Trey) should have just went there because he’s basically a hometown kid and probably could have filled some seats, but (Dumars) has got to do what’s best long term for the team.”
