BROOKLYN -- Less than a week ago, Alec Burks was inside the Barclay's Center as the Utah Jazz were set to play the Brooklyn Nets. That's when he got the news: Burks had been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with a pair of second-round picks in exchange for Kyle Korver.

Late Monday night, on that same court where he was pulled early and his life changed, Burks was endearing himself to his new teammates after his two-handed dunk saved the Cavs from a fourth-quarter collapse.

Talk about full circle.

"I didn't even look at it like that," Burks said. "But yeah, it's crazy. Maybe I will look back later after this whole thing."

In the meantime, Burks still has plenty of work to do. He knows that. Given his contract situation, an expiring $11.5 million deal, he's one of Cleveland's most appealing trade chips. For a team looking to acquire assets, they may have no other choice.

The Cavs aren't interested in trading Kevin Love unless they get blown away by an offer. They signed him to a lucrative extension this off-season and it wasn't a deal solely about this year. They want him around for the long haul, when Collin Sexton is more mature, when other youngsters are added and the vision comes into focus.

JR Smith is at home and his only value comes in the form of a contract that's not fully guaranteed following this season. Tristan Thompson has become the team's anchor and leader, the kind of player a rebuilding team needs. Cedi Osman is still viewed as part of this team's future. Who knows how much the Cavs can get for George Hill, a 32-year-old point guard who has dealt with injuries over the last few seasons and watched as his production has declined.

That leaves Burks. His contract may have more value than what he brings on the court. Although performances like the one he had in Brooklyn certainly point the other way.

After the game Burks was asked if Cleveland is where he wants to be.

"Hopefully. That's not up to me," Burks said. "We will see what happens."

Still, it can't be easy having that question hovering over him. Rodney Hood admitted that his contract year and being traded to Cleveland in February was a weight too heavy. He lost himself and had a hard time staying focused. Hood will use that experience, his own shortcomings, to help guide his buddy Burks.

"It's tough. But he's a mature dude," Hood told cleveland.com. "This is his eighth year. We start to learn about the business as we go along. As long as you have a job in the league, it's great. I'm sure he's fine and at peace with it. The future will take care of itself. I think Alec can flourish here."

Burks is doing his best to focus on this opportunity. It's essentially his trial period. So far, so good.

Head coach Larry Drew raves about Burks' fit, pointing to his speed, playmaking, ball-handling and athleticism. All of it was on display on that late-clock rack-attack.

"That's his game. He attacks the basket," Drew said. "Because he's so athletic, he can maneuver to the basket and get a shot off. The one thing I was trying to do, I wanted to be aggressive on the last play of the game. If the same shot hadn't gone in, just wanted to take them to overtime. We were going to get the last shot. He just made a really good move with the basketball."

Even though Burks is still getting acclimated and admits chemistry needs to keep building, it helps that he has Hood and ex-teammate Hill -- the two other players coincidentally involved in the set that led to Monday's game-winning dunk.

With the shot clock off and the score tied, Drew called the play for Burks. Three games into his Cavaliers tenure, the newbie was the team's go-to guy.

Not Jordan Clarkson, who bricked a jumper on the previous possession. Not Sexton -- he was on the bench, pulled with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter. Not Hill, who faltered late against the Magic in November and had a costly turnover in the final minutes Monday. Not Hood, who was having an off night.

It was Burks. The next scene in his audition.

The play was designed for Hood to set a peel screen. When the Nets switched and put Spencer Dinwiddie on Burks, it was go time. Dinwiddie had five fouls. He didn't want to pick up another in case the game went into overtime. That had Burks thinking attack all the way.

"He'd be reluctant to make any bad decisions, so I just tried to be aggressive," Burks said. "It feels great. (Drew) trusts my talent, my abilities and my teammates trust me. I've only known them for what, three days, and they trust me too. So it's a great feeling."

Burks was all smiles leaving Brooklyn this time. Quite a difference from the whirlwind Wednesday when he was leaving the arena, his teammates and the only franchise he ever knew.

That night, there was no warning. Burks found out shortly before the news hit Twitter. He was trying to process what just happened, trying get a handle on his future, which admittedly still remains foggy.

Nights like Monday can start to clear it up.