Deadline deal hasn’t worked for Knicks or lowly Pistons
It’s thus far the trade that hasn’t worked out for either team.
When the Pistons come to the Garden for Monday night’s matchup, it’s a reminder of the deal that was supposed to provide the Knicks with reliable bench offense for a playoff run and the Pistons with a young 3-and-D wing for their rebuild.
There can’t be a final determination yet but the early returns aren’t good.
For the Knicks, Alec Burks and
Bojan Bogdanovic have largely underwhelmed in their roles. Burks had some positive moments on the recent road trip out west — specifically in Sacramento — but he’s shooting just 32 percent since joining the Knicks with as many turnovers as assists and the team’s worst net rating (-11.5).
Bogdanovic, also acquired from the Pistons, has doubled with the Knicks as an inefficient shooter (39 percent overall) and a liability on defense. He played just seven minutes in Saturday’s win over the Nets, his shortest appearance since 2015.
They both had an opportunity to seize a large role given the injuries to OG Anunoby and Julius Randle, and instead reiterated that Josh Hart and Miles McBride should log the much heavier minutes.
For the Pistons, Quentin Grimes missed 15 of 21 games with a right knee injury, which he first sustained while still with the Knicks. Evan Fournier was probably the biggest beneficiary of the trade. He has played in 19 straight games for
Detroit after falling completely out of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
But Fournier has also shot just 6-for-27 in his last four appearances, and his efficiency since joining the Pistons (38 percent shooting overall) hasn’t left the Knicks feeling regretful.
Of the four players involved in the deal, only Bogdanovic and Grimes are on guaranteed contracts through next season.
➤ The Knicks are inching closer to the ideal spot in the standings. With Cleveland losing two straight ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Heat, The Knicks, occupying the fourth spot in the East, were just one game behind the No. 3 Cavs. The Knicks (42-28) also have three straight games against bottom dwellers — Pistons, Raptors and Spurs.
➤ Randle, Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson were again all ruled out of Monday’s game.
For Robinson, who has returned to contact practice, it’s an unfortunate milestone — his 50th straight missed game since being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his ankle.