Knicks make moves at trade deadline: acquire Bogdanovic and Burks

In a flurry of trade deadline activity, the New York Knicks have completed a significant deal with the Detroit Pistons. The trade sees the Knicks sending Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two second-round picks to Detroit in exchange for veteran forwards Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. The news was reported by Shams Charania.

Sources:

Knicks receive Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from Pistons for Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn and two second-round picks. pic.twitter.com/U0yC5bYWAX

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2024

Bojan Bogdanovic, a seasoned 34-year-old forward, brings a wealth of experience and scoring ability to the Knicks lineup. Last season, Bogdanovic averaged an impressive 21.6 points per game while shooting 41.1% from the field. Despite a slightly reduced workload this season, Bogdanovic has continued to be a reliable scorer, averaging 20.2 points per game in 28 appearances.

Joining Bogdanovic is former Knick Alec Burks, a 32-year-old guard known for his scoring prowess off the bench. Burks has been a consistent contributor throughout his career, averaging 12.6 points per game in a reserve role.

The departure of Quentin Grimes marks the end of an era for the Knicks, as the 23-year-old guard had been a key part of the team’s rotation for much of the season. However, with the emergence of players like OG Anunoby, Donte DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart, Grimes saw his role diminish in recent weeks. Despite this, Grimes showed promise off the bench, averaging 7.3 points per game this season and improving his productivity since transitioning to a reserve role.

On the other hand, Evan Fournier’s tenure with the Knicks comes to an end after a challenging stint that saw him fall out of favor with head coach Tom Thibodeau. Used sparingly this season, Fournier saw limited action, appearing in just three games and logging a total of 39 minutes on the court. This marks a significant decline from the 2021-22 season, where Fournier played a larger role, averaging 14.1 points per game over 80 appearances.

Ryan Arcidiacono, the fourth player dealt by the Knicks, has also seen limited play time this season. The Villanova product was used in 20 games by coach Thibodeau but usually received less than three insignificant minutes and only during blow-out games. He hasn’t scored in any of the matchups.