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Utah's Alec Burks will not need immediate shoulder surgery

Burks practices, could return for Kings
By TONY JONES | The Salt Lake Tribune connect
First Published 1 hour ago
• Updated 1 hour ago

The Utah Jazz received a bit of good news over the weekend.

Starting shooting guard Alec Burks has been cleared to practice, and is considered questionable for Monday’s matchup at the Sacramento Kings with shoulder inflammation. He participated in workouts on Sunday, contact included, and will confer with trainer Gary Briggs to determine his status going forward.

Burks’ shoulder, which has been an issue since his days at Colorado, will still likely require surgery, a source tells The Tribune. But the hope is that he can avoid that significant measure until at least the offseason.

"I’m glad that I received a positive diagnosis," Burks said. "It makes you appreciate things for sure."

The Jazz organization originally feared that Burks would need surgery immediately, a procedure that would’ve put the remainder of his season in jeopardy. But Burks went through four medical opinions. He went through an MRI, strength tests, and shooting drills to determine the strength and the flexibility of the shoulder.

Ultimately, Burks has been pain-free in the last few days. That, coupled with positive test results, caused his diagnoses and his playing status to change.

"Right now, all I can do is try and take it day by day," Burks said.

Burks said the goal is to play this week, even if he isn’t cleared to face the Kings on Monday. In his fourth season with the Jazz, Burks has emerged as a significant piece for the future. He’s the starting shooting guard for the first time in his career. He’s a little less than two months removed from signing a lucrative contract extension. He’s averaged 13.3 points per game and may be Utah’s most talented perimeter defender.

"It feels great to have him back," Jazz guard Trey Burke said. "We hope that he can finish the year on a strong note. It’s great to know he doesn’t need surgery until the end of the season. It’s great news to have our starter back. We need him."

tjones@sltrib.com
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So Burks STILL needs surgery. He's locked up his contract. Jazz are NOT pushing for the playoffs. Isn't it better to have surgery NOW so he has more time to recover, get his strength back and work all summer on his shooting and conditioning? Instead, it appears he's going to play hurt for 4 months, then have surgery and spend most of the summer recovering. So he'll be out of shape and trying to get his shooting touch back in training camp. This is just plain STUPID!

Also, this is quite alarming that it has been an issue since college. Did the Jazz know about this when they drafted him? Did they know about it when they gave him the big extension?
 
Stifle Tower said:
So Burks STILL needs surgery. He's locked up his contract. Jazz are NOT pushing for the playoffs. Isn't it better to have surgery NOW so he has more time to recover, get his strength back and work all summer on his shooting and conditioning? Instead, it appears he's going to play hurt for 4 months, then have surgery and spend most of the summer recovering. So he'll be out of shape and trying to get his shooting touch back in training camp. This is just plain STUPID!

Also, this is quite alarming that it has been an issue since college. Did the Jazz know about this when they drafted him? Did they know about it when they gave him the big extension?
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Depends on what the recovery time is. Didnt Kanter have something done with his shoulder in the offseason? If they think he wont be 100% by the start of training camp next year I agree with you. No need to play through this wasted season. Hopefully they dont project too long of a recovery in the offseason, and he can play right now.
 
Stifle Tower said:
So Burks STILL needs surgery. He's locked up his contract. Jazz are NOT pushing for the playoffs. Isn't it better to have surgery NOW so he has more time to recover, get his strength back and work all summer on his shooting and conditioning? Instead, it appears he's going to play hurt for 4 months, then have surgery and spend most of the summer recovering. So he'll be out of shape and trying to get his shooting touch back in training camp. This is just plain STUPID!

Also, this is quite alarming that it has been an issue since college. Did the Jazz know about this when they drafted him? Did they know about it when they gave him the big extension?
Click to expand...

If he is healthy enough to play and can stay that way, it keeps him in play for a trade, not that he has much trade value, but it keeps that option open. Otherwise, I would agree that he should do it now.
 
I have it on really good info, that all this drama was from Burks agent. That they first went to the dr in Utah at the U and he basically said that its fine, but Burks agent didn't believe him so they insisted that he go all over the place getting different opinions but they were all the same.
 
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No, not at all. Just seemed like there was a little too much info in your post. Like your edit. :)
 
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