Knicks trading for Pistons’ Bojan Bogdanović, Alec Burks in deal involving Quentin Grimes: Sources

By Shams Charania, Sam Vecenie, James Edwards III and Fred Katz

The New York Knicks are trading for Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks while sending Quentin Grimes to the Detroit Pistons, according to league sources.

Along with Grimes, the Pistons will also receive Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn and two second-round picks, per league sources.

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

Bogdanović, 34, had his highest-scoring two-year stint in the NBA with the Pistons. He averaged a career-high 21.6 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting from 3-point range in 59 games during the 2022-23 season. In 28 games this season, Bogdanović is averaging 20.2 points on 41.5 percent 3-point shooting.

The 10-year veteran has been a steady scoring presence in Detroit since arriving from the Utah Jazz.

Burks is averaging 12.6 points per game in 43 contests for the Pistons, all off the bench. The 32-year-old was traded from New York to Detroit in July after signing a multi-year deal with the Knicks in 2021.

The Knicks have bench depth. The Pistons have a potential piece for the future.

Who won the deal?@talkhoops believes it's New York.

Trade grades ⤵️https://t.co/iXIj2Ydj1T pic.twitter.com/rm7bWLeW7A

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) February 8, 2024

The Athletic reported in mid-January that the Knicks were fielding calls for Grimes. The 23-year-old fell out of favor with coach Tom Thibodeau and lost the starting shooting guard job to Donte DiVincenzo on Dec. 8.

Grimes, the 25th pick in the 2021 draft, is averaging 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game this season.

How this moves the needle for Knicks

I was told the Knicks and Pistons revved up talks for Bogdanović and Burks this morning. The Knicks go out and get a guard and a forward who will help in the rotation a day after we learn OG Anunoby is dealing with bone spurs in his right elbow. Both can help alleviate the burden on Jalen Brunson.

It’s worth noting that Thibodeau was a major Burks advocate during his first stint in New York. It’s no coincidence Burks had been at/near the top of the Knicks’ wish list all trade season. He’s someone the Knicks know will fit a hard-nosed culture.

Acquiring Bogdanović brings in an extra shooter and scorer, but it also accomplishes exactly what the Knicks wanted contractually. He’s partially guaranteed for $19 million next season but expect the Knicks to pick that up. They were seeking a 2024-25 salary in that range to flip in a bigger trade this summer or next season.

The deal should also leave us wondering what’s next for Anunoby, who will miss his sixth consecutive game Thursday night with an elbow injury. The Knicks had listed Anunoby’s injury as “elbow inflammation” before they reclassified it Wednesday, updating his status on the injury report to “bone spur irritation.”

Bogdanović and Burks can’t make up for Anunoby’s absence, especially defensively, but they could help keep the roster afloat if the 26-year-old has to miss more time. — Fred Katz, Knicks beat writer

Detroit finally moves on from veterans

Despite their hesitancy to deal both Bogdanović and Burks, the Pistons decided to trade both at the same time to the Knicks.

Grimes is the prize for Detroit here. He’s a 23-year-old 3-and-D wing still on a very cheap deal. The Pistons went into this deadline identifying players who could help on both sides of the ball as they try to build around their young core. Detroit makes this move while maintaining financial flexibility this summer as Grimes will make just north of $4 million next season and Fournier has a team option.

NYK never offered the Pistons’ first and have been unwilling to trade firsts to any team, I’ve heard.

Also have heard what DET wanted for Bogey is nowhere near what teams were giving up.

Ultimately, DET felt Grimes and his team-friendly deal were better than any pick available

— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) February 8, 2024

Per league sources, Detroit attempted to get its first-round pick back from New York, but the Knicks had no interest in trading firsts to anyone. The Pistons didn’t get a first-round offer from any rival team that they felt was better than acquiring Grimes on the team-friendly deal. — James Edwards III, Pistons beat writer

GO DEEPER

Edwards: The Pistons' deadline wasn't perfect but Detroit is in a better position to succeed

Why New York is moving on from Grimes

Grimes had a tremendous 2022-23 season that showcased his value. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3. He took on tough defensive assignments on the wing, showcasing physicality on the ball and an ability to stay in front of opposing players.

Overall, he was worth about 6.1 wins last season, according to Taylor Snarr’s Estimated Plus Minus model — a top 15 mark among shooting guards.

However, this season has not gone well. Grimes, who dealt with an illness and a sprained left wrist that held him out of a couple of games in November, remained useful on defense. But his offensive game, outside of his 3-point shot, fell off a cliff. He’s playing about 20 minutes per game while coming off the bench and fell behind Josh Hart, DiVincenzo and newcomer Anunoby in the rotation. Thibodeau, in particular, had been reluctant to play DiVincenzo and Grimes together. — Sam Vecenie, NBA senior writer

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(Photo: Chris Schwegler / NBAE via Getty Images)