The New York Knicks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Jalen Brunson is a bonafide superstar guard, and the rest of the roster is well-coached by Tom Thibodeau. They are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings but are within striking distance of the second spot. The front office is hungry for a championship and made a huge move before the trade deadline, acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from the Detroit Pistons.
New York Knicks Acquire Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks
Full trade, per ESPN Sources:
Knicks: Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks
Pistons: Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn, Evan Fournier, Ryan Arcidiacono and two second-round picks.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024
New York Knicks get: Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.
Detroit Pistons get: Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn, Evan Fournier, Ryan Arcidiacono, and two second-round picks.
The New York Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973. They feel like this finally might be their year. New York is acquiring one of the most highly sought-after trade targets in Bojan Bogdanovic. The 13-year veteran is averaging 21 points per game and shooting 43% from 3-point range. He immediately will come in to replace the injured Julius Randle at the forward spot.
Don’t sleep on Burks for the New York Knicks! Off the bench, he is averaging 12.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 39.4% from the field and 40.1% from three. He is a quality rotation piece who can come off the bench and score in bunches. Grimes is the only piece that is tough to give up because of his age, but that is the price of doing business.
New York Knicks & Bojan Bogdanovic Fit
In the short term, filling in for Randle is critical for the team. Even once Randle is back, Bogdanovic still provides massive value. A team can never have enough shooters, especially those who are shooting over 40% from three. He also brings a great veteran presence to the team, having played for the Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, and the Detroit Pistons during his tenure.
The New York Knicks are now one of the deepest teams in the NBA. OG Anunoby was acquired earlier this season, and the team still has Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. Once the team gets Randle back, this team can easily go eight or nine deep. While the playoff rotation may not be this deep, it allows for an injury or an off-night from a player.
Giving up Grimes is a potentially steep price. However, the New York Knicks feel like they have a shot in the East. Boston seems to be on the fast track to the one seed, but everyone else has major flaws. If they can finish strong and get a top seed, they will be a tough out for any team in a seven-game series.
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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