It turns out that the New York Knicks may not be done doing business with Danny Ainge after all. New York’s pursuit of Donovan Mitchell ended with him being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but there’s another Utah Jazz player that the Knicks are reportedly interested in, and his name is Bojan Bogdanovic.
The 33-year-old has spent the last three seasons in Utah, but because the Jazz are in a rebuilding period, Bogdanovic will likely soon be on his fifth team. His career started in Brooklyn in 2014 with the Nets, and he could be making his way back to New York City.
Last season, Bogdanovic averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 69 games while shooting 45.5% from the field and 38.7% from the three-point line. In Utah’s six playoff games, he averaged 18 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
According to John Gambadoro, a sports talk radio host in Phoenix, the Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, and Knicks have an interest in Bogdanovic.
Phoenix being good does work against them in competing for players as their 1st-round pick(s) are not expected to be as good as others. In the case of Bojan Bogdanovic, the Suns, Lakers, Mavs & Knicks all have interest with draft picks & expiring contracts the key to a deal.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) September 8, 2022
Will the New York Knicks trade for Jazz’s Bojan Bogdanovic?
Based on what William Wesley told Charles Barkley about the Donovan Mitchell trade talks, New York probably would like to avoid engaging with Utah altogether. But if the Knicks are truly interested in Bogdanovic, they have what it would take to get him.
The Jazz are reportedly interested in getting a first-round pick in exchange for Bogdanovic, but the catch is that he’s set to become a free agent at the end of the 2022-23 season. It wouldn’t be wise for New York to give up a first for Bojan just to have him spend one year with the team. The Knicks aren’t contenders, so it’s not as if he’d be able to help them make a deep playoff run.
However, Bogdanovic would certainly be an offensive spark for New York. Evan Fournier’s name has been floating around in trade rumors due to the uncertainties that the Knicks have in regards to a Jalen Brunson-Fournier backcourt. If New York plans to trade Fournier, Bogdanovic would help to replace the Frenchman’s offensive output and Bojan would actually contribute on defense.
Trading for Bogdanovic likely isn’t one of the Knicks’ top priorities, but New York having an interest in the forward is certainly noteworthy. The Knicks might not have been able to get Donovan Mitchell, but there’s another former Jazz player that could wind up back in New York.
3 reasons the Knicks should trade for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
With Donovan Mitchell now in Cleveland, the Knicks may pivot to other potential trade options. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be the next man up in New York.