Knicks acquire Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks from Pistons

The New York Knicks haveacquired forward Bojan Bogdanovic and guard Alec Burks from theDetroit Pistons for guards Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, MalachiFlynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two second round picks, according toESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Acquiring veteran pieces inBogdanovic and Burks strengthens the Knicks’ core as they hope toembark on a deep playoff run this season. New York is currentlytied with the Milwaukee Bucks in third place in the EasternConference with a 33-18 record.

New York is the first contenderin the East to make a splashy move as they feel like this core, ledby All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, could contend theEast.

Bogdanovic, 34, is averaging20.2 points while shooting 41.5% from three-point range thisseason. Bogdanovic will likely start at power forward as Randlerecovers from a shoulder injury and he'll provide scoring alongsideBrunson, giving the Knicks additional firepower.

Burks, 32, returns to New Yorkafter spending two seasons with the team from 2020 to 2022. He’scurrently averaging 12.6 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 40%from three in 43 games this season. Burks gives the Knicks asecondary ball handler and bucket-getter off the bench.

Detroit receives two futuresecond-rounders and four guards (Grimes, Fournier, Flynn andArcidiacono). Grimes, the 25th overall pick in 2021, was moved tothe bench this season in favor of Donte DiVincenzo. Fournier andArcidiacono didn't get many minutes in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation,while Flynn just recently arrived from Toronto as part of the OGAnunoby trade and never established himself in thelineup.