Going through mounting accidents and expiring contracts, the Knicks traded Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier and draft capital for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks at this yr’s commerce deadline.
On the time, it will be honest to think about Bogdanovic as the perfect participant in that commerce, a perennial 20-points-per-game scorer and 40 % shooter from deep.
Whereas New York was ready so as to add our bodies and substitute a big contract good for commerce fodder, Bogdanovic’s recreation didn’t translate as hoped. He went from averaging 20.2 factors on 51.8 % capturing from two and 41.5 % from three in Detroit to scoring 10.4 factors a recreation on 48.8 % and 37 %, respectively.
A few of this needed to do together with his position drastically altering. He went from high-minutes, high-volume shotputting to bench offensive engine, and struggled to defend to the extent required in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
At one level, Bogdanovic went six straight video games with out scoring in double figures, a whole 180 from the participant New York hoped they have been buying and selling for. He was meant to function a reliable shooter and scorer amid the accidents, and finally a playoff weapon if all went proper.
The upshot? Bogdanovic discovered some consolation down the house stretch of the season.
Over his final 12 video games, Bogdanovic put up 10.9 factors on 55 % capturing from two and 41.3 % from three. He rediscovered his jumper and began utilizing his physique inside extra towards weaker guards.
This play carried over into the postseason, the place though he didn’t rating fairly as effectively, he displayed that late-season confidence and appeared as if the Knicks may flip to him in an offensive pinch. He made a few large baskets within the ultimate moments of the third and early within the fourth quarter of Recreation 1 towards Philadelphia, plus two large threes to begin the fourth quarter within the ensuing contest.
Sadly, the Knicks wouldn’t see rather more of him as he went down with an ankle harm in Recreation 4, which alongside together with his wrist, required offseason surgical procedures to restore. New York now has the choice of waiving him and his $19 million owed in 2024-25, of which solely $2 million is assured in the event that they clip him, which may add flexibility to their free company.
So ought to New York preserve Bogdanovic, or let him stroll?
It’s exhausting to pinpoint precisely how nicely Bogdanovic will match with this staff. It ought to look barely higher than final yr’s common season with a full camp and outlined position, nevertheless, he started dropping postseason minutes because the 76ers focused him defensively continuous, which wouldn’t change.
Assuming the complete rotation returns, he’ll possible be slotted 13-20 minutes as a bench wing relying on his play. He may be anticipated to shoot and rating nicely, or on the very least simply present some wanted depth, however he additionally simply turned 35 years outdated and is now coming off two surgical procedures.
There’s additionally the potential for not waiving him to commerce him this summer season or subsequent season. He’ll have a big expiring contract and outlined skillset groups would have an interest, and the Knicks are reportedly star-hunting, in order that they’ll want the ammo to do it.
The flip facet is waiving him to open up room for a better-fitting free agent. The Knicks possible received’t have cap house and might want to get into the luxurious tax to retain the core of their roster.
That stated, underneath the brand new CBA guidelines, their mid-level exception will increase and reduces relying on how far over the brink they’re. In a single situation, waiving Bogdanovic may open up the non-taxpayer MLE projected to be round $13 million a yr, as in comparison with the primary apron quantity of round $5 million, and no exception in anyway on the second apron.
New York can use that $13 million on any individual like Tyus Jones, Kyle Anderson, Royce O’Neal or Gary Harris. These can be marginal upgrades, if that, however their defensive aptitudes higher match the Knicks’ roster and tradition.
Sadly with Bogdanovic’s assure due on June 28, the Knicks might want to have a transparent sense of the upcoming offseason to make their resolution, except they commerce him across the NBA Draft (beginning June 26). Both manner, this ought to be one in all their simpler selections, with a number of optimistic outcomes obtainable to them.
