Knicks waive Ramon Sessions; will sign Trey Burke on Sunday, source says
Trey Burke of the Wizards dribbles up the court against the Nets at Verizon Center on Dec. 30, 2016, in Washington. Credit: Getty Images / Patrick Smith
The Knicks waived Ramon Sessions on Saturday, opening a roster spot to sign guard Trey Burke.
The Burke signing will become official Sunday before the Knicks play the Pelicans at Madison Square Garden, according to a league source.
Burke, 25, has averaged 26.6 points and 5.4 assists in 26 games for the Knicks’ G League team in Westchester. They’re signing him because they want to add a guard who can get into the paint, which is something they lack.
It’s unclear how the Knicks will use Burke. Jarrett Jack is expected to remain the starting point guard, and they’re still developing rookie Frank Ntilikina. Burke could be someone Jeff Hornacek turns to for a different look or to change the pace of the game.
The Knicks signed Sessions to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum over the summer. They expected him to be their starting point guard, but he got off to a slow start as the Knicks lost their first three games. Jack replaced Sessions in the starting lineup in the fourth game and hasn’t relinquished the spot. Jack’s contract became guaranteed last week.
Sessions played in only 13 games, averaging 3.7 points and 2.1 assists. He was inactive Friday night in Minnesota.
“We thank Ramon for being a consummate professional and providing this team with veteran leadership,” Knicks general manager Scott Perry said in a statement. “He is incredibly well respected throughout the organization and we wish him the best moving forward.”
Burke, a former lottery pick who was taken ninth in 2013 out of Michigan, spent four seasons in the NBA with Utah and Washington. His numbers and playing time continually dipped after an impressive rookie season with Utah in which he averaged 12.8 points and 5.7 assists. Since then, he has averaged 9.8 points and 2.9 assists.
At Michigan, Burke played with Tim Hardaway Jr., who said last week that it would be good to reunite with him.
“It’d be great if he does get called up,” Hardaway said. “We play off one another very, very well. I would definitely be happy with him. It would be like the old times: just him bringing the ball up the court and me running the wing, just doing our thing. It won’t take that long for us to mesh. That’s a positive.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
