Get on board, because the Leon Rose and Worldwide Wes train is running out of seats. A move declaring the New York Knicks the winners of the NBA trade deadline.
Team president Leon Rose has made a move to boost the roster by acquiring two seasoned veterans, Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic from the Detroit Pistons. These recent acquisitions are expected to bolster the Knicks’ depth and add some much-needed firepower to their line-up. As a result, fans are ecstatic, and there is real buzz around the Knicks being legit contenders out of the East.
Trade Details
We knew the Knicks were active, but we had to wait to see the team’s direction. In return for the aforementioned Burks and Bogdanovic, the Pistons received Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono, and two future second-round picks.
Many Knicks fans are sad to see Quentin Grimes go, we wish him the best; but we kept the first round picks, which is a beautiful thing.
Bojan brings a tremendous amount of basketball experience to the Knicks, both from the NBA and internationally. He is an elite scorer who has solidified himself as one of the best shooters in the NBA. Alec Burks played an integral role throughout the Knicks 2020-21 playoff season, he understands and embraces the culture here. He will bring a lot of value to this team by playing both PG and SG.
This move is a clear reflection of the Knicks’ strategic approach to enhance their squad’s depth and rotation as they prepare for the playoff push.
The Pistons are trading Bojan Bogdanovic to the Knicks too, sources tell ESPN. Evan Fournier and Malachi Flynn will go to Detroit. https://t.co/tYqAVNQHXT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024
The Knicks currently have their most talented and deepest roster this century.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) February 8, 2024
Guards: Brunson, DiVincenzo, Burks, Deuce
Wings: Anunoby, Hart
Forwards: Randle, Bogdanovic, Achiuwa
Centers: Hartenstein, Sims, Taj, Mitch Rob
Alec Burks: A Familiar Face Returns
Alec Burks is returning to MSG. Burks is a Tom Thibodeau favorite who can fill in as a backup point guard, essentially replacing Immanuel Quickley. He has averaged 12.7 points per game in a season and a half with the Pistons; which is slightly above the 12.1ppg he averaged in two seasons with the Knicks.
Burks’ ability to break down defenders with his dribble, combined with his reliable 3-point shooting, makes him an excellent addition to the team. Over the last four and a half seasons, Burks has made 40.3 percent of his threes while averaging 4.9 attempts in 290 games.
Bojan Bogdanovic: A Scoring Machine
Oh baby, I had this cooked up for weeks. Bojan Bogdanovic is a high-caliber scorer who can flat out shoot the basketball. The 34-year-old Croatian forward has averaged 18.2 points with 47/41/86 shooting splits over his last five and a half seasons.
His addition to the Knicks will not only bolster the team’s scoring capabilities but also provide much-needed insurance, with Julius Randle, and more recently OG Anunoby, being sidelined for the next few weeks with injuries.
The Departures: Quentin Grimes and Evan Fournier
The Knicks had to part ways with Quentin Grimes and Evan Fournier. Grimes, a former first-round pick, saw his role diminish with the arrival of Donte DiVincenzo.
Grimes showed flashes of being a capable starter and or rotational player. He is an easy player to cheer for and fans wanted to see him do well. Unfortunately, it appeared he would never flourish to his full potential in his current role.
On the other hand, they turned Evan Fournier into an asset. Fournier, who had been on the trading block since the summer, is now free to get the minutes he wants, minus the winning.
His inconsistent opportunity in the rotation and dissatisfaction with his role led to his eventual departure. Used as a filler contract, the Knicks now acquire Bogdanovic’s friendly contract; which stands at $19 million, with only $2 million guaranteed. The rest of the salary becomes fully guaranteed 6/29/24. This provides extra $16-$17 million while they gauge the trade market and free agency before locking him in for next season.
Y’all want some icing on the cake?
— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) February 8, 2024
New York Knicks have 2 open roster spots and are $2.5M below the luxury tax.
Alot of room below the firsts apron to sign players bought out of their contract.
BREAKING: New York Knicks F OG Anunoby had surgery to remove a loose bone fragment in his right elbow and will miss a minimum of three weeks, sources tell ESPN. Procedure is considered minor and he’s expected to resume basketball activities in three weeks. pic.twitter.com/jws9NC1s32
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024
OG Anunoby Surgery
As Knicks fans, we can’t have any good without some sort of bad. The Knicks’ eagerness at the recent trade deadline was notably impacted by OG Anunoby’s elbow surgery. Anunoby had to remove a loose bone fragment in his elbow, leading to a minimum three-week absence.
This development came amidst a period where the Knicks are already banged up. Injuries to key players like Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle, intensified the need for reinforcements. Even Brunson tweaked an ankle recently. It almost makes you think this was always part of the Knicks plans towards the deadline to hide some sort of vulnerability. The Knicks Front Office did not want any signs of that.
The Knicks are anticipating a stronger playoff run with both Anunoby and Randle fully recuperated with fresh legs. This sequence of events underscores a calculated approach by the Knicks’ management, seeking to navigate through immediate challenges while setting the stage for a robust playoff performance.
A New Era for the Knicks
With these strategic acquisitions, the New York Knicks have set themselves up for success in the coming seasons. The addition of Burks and Bogdanovic provides the team with much-needed scoring depth and experience, which will be crucial in their playoff push.
The Knicks have shown that they are not afraid to make bold moves in pursuit of success. They have assembled a team that is not only talented but is balanced and versatile. Their recent moves have demonstrated their commitment to building a team and showing that they still maintain a long term plan.
New York has every reason to be excited about what the future holds for this team. With a roster that boasts a blend of youth and experience, coupled with an astute leadership team and some draft capital, the New York Knicks are all set to make serious noise across the NBA.
For now, the city of New York waits with bated breath as the Knicks prepare to take the court with their new additions. As the Knicks continue to grow and evolve, we are seeing Leon Rose and Worldwide Wes’ vision unfold.
As ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins said, “Right now, they’re deeper than the Pacific Ocean, and everybody else in the Eastern Conference needs to get life jackets.”
Shams: "Bojan Bogdanovic & Alec Burks going to the Knicks––to me the Knicks had the best deadline day of any NBA team…
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 8, 2024
"Anunoby, Bogdanovic…Alec Burks…They didn't give up a single 1st-round pick…
"Primed to make another move potentially in summer…"pic.twitter.com/Asv569QiAR
Malika Andrews: "Knicks better than the Sixers?"
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 8, 2024
Kendrick Perkins: "They're better than the Sixers"
Malika: "Better than the Cavs?"
Perk: "Better than the Cavs"
Malika: "Better than the Bucks?"
KP: "Hell yeah––"
Austin Rivers: "No…"
…
Richard Jefferson: "…Bucks would… pic.twitter.com/4VJeD8e7py
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