The New York Knicks have made a big move to boost their offense by trading for two of the best shooters in the league, Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic, from the Detroit Pistons.
Knicks deal Grimes, Fournier and picks for Burks and Bogdanovic
The Knicks sent Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two second-round picks to the Pistons in exchange for Burks and Bogdanovic, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The trade was completed before the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday.
The Knicks were looking for some scoring punch off their bench, as they have been dealing with injuries to their starting frontcourt of Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson. They also lost some of their bench depth when they traded Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to the Toronto Raptors for Anunoby in December.
Burks and Bogdanovic are both proven scorers who can stretch the floor with their shooting. Burks has averaged 12.7 points per game in 1 1/2 seasons with the Pistons, while Bogdanovic has averaged 20.2 points and shot 41.5% from 3-point range this season.
Knicks improve their chances in the Eastern Conference
The Knicks have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season, as they have gone 16-3 since Anunoby joined the starting lineup on Jan. 1. They are currently tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks for the second spot in the Eastern Conference, behind the Boston Celtics.
The addition of Burks and Bogdanovic could give them the edge they need to break away from the pack and challenge the Celtics for the top seed. The Knicks have improved their 3-point shooting this season, ranking fourth in the league in 3-point percentage and seventh in 3-point attempts. Burks and Bogdanovic will fit right in with their style of play, as they are both capable of creating their own shots and playing off the ball.
The Knicks also have a familiar face in Burks, who played for them in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He was a key contributor for coach Tom Thibodeau, starting 49 games and averaging 12.1 points per game. He was traded to the Pistons in the offseason to help the Knicks sign Jalen Brunson, but now he returns to New York to help them make a playoff push.
Pistons continue their rebuild with young players and picks
The Pistons, who have the worst record in the league, had no use for Burks and Bogdanovic, who are both in their 30s and have expiring contracts. They decided to cash in on their value and get some young players and draft picks in return.
The Pistons acquired Grimes, who was the 25th pick in the 2021 draft and has shown some potential as a 3-and-D wing. He has averaged 8.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 36.8% from 3-point range. He will join a young core that includes Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart.
The Pistons also got Fournier, who was a starter for the Knicks last season, but fell out of the rotation this season. He has averaged 10.9 points per game, but has shot only 31.4% from 3-point range. He could provide some veteran leadership and scoring for the Pistons, or he could be a buyout candidate.
The Pistons also added Flynn, who was the 29th pick in the 2020 draft and has played sparingly for the Knicks. He has averaged 2.8 points and 1.4 assists per game, while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range. He could get some more opportunities to develop in Detroit.
The Pistons also received Arcidiacono, who was a backup point guard for the Knicks. He has averaged 2.1 points and 1.3 assists per game, while shooting 35.7% from 3-point range. He is on an expiring contract and could be waived by the Pistons.
The Pistons also got two second-round picks from the Knicks, which could be useful assets for their rebuild. The Pistons already have their own first-round pick, which is likely to be in the top three, and the Houston Rockets’ first-round pick, which is top-four protected.
