This is a trade that hasn’t worked out for either team so far.
When the Pistons come to the Garden for Monday night’s game, it’s a reminder of the deal made. was supposed to provide the Knicks with reliable offense off the bench for a playoff run and the Pistons with a young 3-and-D wing for their rebuild.
There cannot yet be a final decision, but the first results are not good.
For the Knicks, Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic were largely disappointed in their roles.
the trade deadline. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Burks had some positive moments during his recent road trip out west — particularly in Sacramento — but he’s shooting just 32 percent since joining the Knicks with as many turnovers as assists and the worst mark team net rating (-11.5).
Bogdanovic, also acquired from the Pistons, doubled down 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 play a significant 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 due to a right knee injury, which he first suffered while still with the Knicks.
Evan Fournier was probably the biggest beneficiary of the trade.
He played in 19 straight games for Detroit after being completely left out of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
But Fournier has also shot just 6 of 27 in his last four appearances, and his efficiency since joining the Pistons (38 percent shooting overall) hasn’t left the Knicks regretting.
Of the four players involved in the deal, only Bogdanovic and Grimes have guaranteed contracts through next season.
The Knicks are getting closer to the ideal place in the standings.
With Cleveland losing two straight heading into Sunday night’s game against the Heat, the Knicks, sitting in fourth place in the East, were just one game behind the No. 3 Cavs.
The Knicks (42-28) also have three straight games against the bottom dwellers – Pistons, Raptors and Spurs.
Randle, Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson were once again 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.
Randle is still waiting for permission to make contact.
There is a high level of concern about re-injury with his dislocated shoulder.
Anunoby’s injury is once again shrouded in mystery. He left the team during its move to the Western Conference because his surgically repaired elbow “fired up,” although a subsequent MRI came back “clean,” Tom Thibodeau said.
The coach added Saturday morning that he had not yet spoken with Anunoby about his recovery.
