The New York Knicks acquired Bojan Bogdanovic at the Feb. 8 trade deadline. He was shipped in to provide movement shooting to a Knicks team that sometimes became stagnant on the offensive end.
Bogdanovic averaged 10.4 points and two rebounds while shooting 43% from the field and 37% from three-point range in the 29 games he played for New York.
As the Knicks head into the offseason, they must decide whether to guarantee Bogdanovic’s contract. Only $2M of his $19M deal is guaranteed for next season. SNY’s Ian Begley recently said on the “HoopsHype Podcast” that New York will likely fully guarantee his deal to provide itself with a valuable trade chip.
“If you don’t have his salary, where are you looking in terms of salary to move out in a trade?” Begley said. “Julius Randle is going to be right under $30 million next year. Mitchell Robinson is just under $15 million. You don’t have a ton of options in terms of middle-of-the-road salaries at a good number where you can put together a package to match a big number. That’s why I think the Knicks will guarantee Bojan. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to cut him.”
New York is believed to be one star away from being a major contender in the Eastern Conference. Bogdanovic was impressive during his tenure with the Detroit Pistons. Teams around the NBA always look for veteran shooters who can score without dominating touches.
Bogdanovic was always going to emerge as a trade chip for New York. It understood his contract situation before trading for him. His presence on the roster gives it a solid salary-matching tool with value on the court. It can also dangle future draft picks and other talents to comprise a complete trade package.
The Knicks have been preparing themselves for a star trade in recent years. One has yet to materialize, but the franchise continues to ensure it’s prepared for when the eventuality occurs.
Bogdanovic is unlikely to end next season in New York. Still, he will be an impactful member of the rotation while he’s there and could be the player that finally allows the Knicks to take the last jump into contender status.
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