Alec Burks already is familiar to Knicks fans, having previously played for the team for two seasons from 2020-22.
But here are six things to know about Bojan Bogdanovic, who was acquired with Burks ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline from the Pistons in a trade for Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two second-round picks, a source confirmed to The Post’s Stefan Bondy.
1. The Croatian forward played the first three-plus seasons of his NBA career with the Nets, making second-team All-Rookie in 2014-15, when he averaged 9.0 points per game in 78 appearances for Brooklyn.
2. The Nets acquired his rights in a three-way trade with Miami and Minnesota on draft night in 2011, and they traded him for the first-round pick that became Nic Claxton in 2017.
the 2024 NBA trade deadline. NBAE via Getty Images
3. The 34-year-old Bogdanovic has averaged 21.6 points and 20.2 points over the past two seasons with the Pistons, the two highest outputs of his 10-year NBA career. He is a 39.5 percent career shooter from 3-point range, including 41.5 percent — the second-best figure in his career — in 28 games this season.
4. According to Spotrac, he is earning $20 million this season, with a partly guaranteed contract ($2 million of $19 million) for 2024-25. The Knicks would have until June 29 to decide whether to set him free or pick up that entire salary, which would make Bogdanovic’s deal an expiring contract to keep or deal elsewhere next summer.
Follow along with the Knicks' trades before the deadline
- The Knicks are acquiring Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic from the Pistons ahead of Thursday’s 2024 NBA trade deadline, according to multiple reports.
- Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two future second-round picks are part of the package heading to Detroit, ESPN.com reported.
- Burks, who played for the Knicks in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, is averaging 12.6 points per game this season.
- Bogdanovic averages 20.2 points per game for Detroit and has long been rumored to be on the trade market.
- Fournier has been frustrated by being benched for much of the season so far, going as far as to say the Knicks were holding him “hostage.” He previously expected to be traded before the season started.
- Grimes lost his starting job in early December to Donte DiVincenzo and has struggled with his demotion.
5. The 6-7 Bogdanovic should not be confused with Serbian-born wing Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is averaging a career-high 17 points per game this season for the Hawks.
6. Bogdanovic would figure to help the Knicks most immediately in the starting lineup, with the entire starting frontcourt (Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson) currently sidelined due to injury. Theoretically, he could start for either Randle or Anunoby until both return, then shift to the bench if/when they’re back.
This will be an adjustment for Bogdanovic — over the last six years, Bogdanovic has started 451 of the 452 games he’s played with the Pacers, Jazz and Pistons. He did come off the bench earlier in his career.