Recently, the Knicks once again showed aggressiveness at the NBA trade deadline, successfully acquiring experienced forward Bojan Bogdanovic from the Detroit Pistons. In this trade, the Knicks sent Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Flin, Alcidiacono and two second-round picks, as well as Alec Burks.
Knicks: A rating
The deal was a great deal for the Knicks, especially on the team's perimeter roster. Bogdanovic is still 20 per game at the age of 352 points and 47 playoff games. His arrival gives the Knicks more options on the perimeter and more flexibility for the team.
Imagine a lineup of Brunson, Hart, Anunoby, Bojan and Randle, or a solid big man from the team when Randle is off the field. Or, replace Hart with a big man and let Brunson lead a lineup with a huge physical advantage. The Knicks are now better suited to a variety of basketball styles, which will be crucial for matching up with other top teams in the East.
In the worst-case scenario, Bogdanovic provided them with another big, efficient scorer who was perfectly up to the bench. Currently, only seven players in the league can average more than 20 points per game on at least 46 percent shooting and 41 percent three-point shooting, and the Knicks now have two: Brunson and Bogdanovic.
What's more, the Knicks didn't give up a single future first-round pick in this trade with Anunoby, which is undoubtedly the icing on the cake. Especially when future stars are potentially emerging, which gives the Knicks more leverage in the future.
Pistons: C+ rating
As for the Pistons, the deal was fairly average. Grimes looks poised to be a player who can play a key role on a strong team, but the problem is that the Pistons aren't a strong team. This may be a bit disappointing considering the team didn't get a first-round pick from the Bogdanovic trade. Perhaps, the Pistons value Grimes more as a relatively stable option than risk the uncertainty of choosing a future draft.
Overall, it's not a bad deal for Detroit, but it may seem a little less impressive considering the enormous value Bogdanovic could bring to his next team. The Pistons need to focus on developing young players now, and Grimes may be able to find his niche in the process and contribute to the team's future.
In this trade, the Knicks clearly demonstrated their determination to compete for the top spot in the East, while the Pistons tried to secure as much capital as possible while focusing on the development of young players. Such a deal makes sense for both parties, and the final result will depend on future developments and the performance of the players.