Recent trade rumors have linked Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic to the New York Knicks. A professional scorer through and through, the 34-year-old Bogdanovic averaged 21.6 points last season while shooting 41.1% from three. The sharpshooting veteran could offer a huge scoring boost to a Knicks team that ranks 21st in points per game this season.
According to NBA writer Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, the Knicks and the Miami Heat have both been mentioned as potential candidates to trade for Bogdanovic this season. The Pistons have now lost a stunning 19 games in a row, good for their most consecutive losses in franchise history. With an abominable 2-20 record, Detroit may have little reason to hold onto a veteran like Bogdanovic.
On Dec. 2, Bogdanovic made his season debut with 22 points on 7/15 shooting from the field. Back like he never left, the 6-foot-7 was a walking bucket in his return to basketball. Bogdanovic ended his last campaign by missing 19 games in a row with an Achilles injury, and a calf issue kept him sidelined for Detroit’s first 19 games to start this season.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed a deal in which the Pistons would trade Bogdanovic to New York for Evan Fournier, Miles McBride, and a 2024 first-round pick. This deal would provide Detroit with draft capital for the future and a promising young point guard in McBride, and the Knicks would gain a polished scorer to either replace Quentin Grimes in the starting five or come off the bench as one of the best sixth men in the league.
Overall, the Knicks have put together a solid start to the 2023-24 NBA season. Their 12-8 record currently lands them in fifth place in the Eastern Conference right behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
On pace for a 47-win campaign, New York boasts a top-ten net rating and a top-ten defense. After rolling out a bottom-11 defense last season, the Knicks have bounced back and given their passionate fanbase a defense to be proud of. Before their In-Season Tournament loss to a red-hot Milwaukee Bucks squad that shot an absurd 23/38 (60.5%) from three, the Knicks only trailed the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves in defensive rating with a 109.0 mark.
Mitchell Robinson, New York’s defensive anchor, has received a career-high 29.8 minutes per game. The athletic seven-footer has finally solved the fouling problems that limited his opportunities early in his career.
This season, Robinson has averaged a career-low 1.9 personal fouls per contest. Robinson averaged around three fouls during his first five years in the league. In fact, the shot-blocking big man fouled 3.2 times a night in just 21.8 minutes per game for his first two NBA seasons.
With their defense finally in order and their chemistry developing well, the Knicks could make a serious splash in the trade market by acquiring Bogdanovic. If New York can snag the Bosnian baller, the team could make some serious noise come playoff time.
