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'Not sure Detroit should be allowed to make trades': Reactions to Pistons' latest deal

jared ramsey, detroit free press
·4 min read
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The Detroit Pistons' already busy trade deadline went to a new level Thursday morning before the 3 p.m. final call.

In their fourth trade of the last 24 hours, the Pistons sent Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks to the New York Knicks in exchange for Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn, Evan Fournier, Ryan Arcidiacono and two second-round picks.

The Pistons moved on from two veterans in Burks and Bogdanovic who were solid fixtures in the rotation while picking up Grimes, a capable two-way wing, three players who were on the fringe of the Knicks rotation and two late picks in the future.

(From left) Pistons guard Alec Burks, forward Bojan Bogdanovic and center Jalen Duren look on during the second half of the Pistons' 118-112 loss to the Nets on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.
(From left) Pistons guard Alec Burks, forward Bojan Bogdanovic and center Jalen Duren look on during the second half of the Pistons' 118-112 loss to the Nets on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.

Burks and Bogdanovic both arrived in Detroit during the 2022 offseason and were two of the most consistent shooters for the Pistons during their one-and-a-half seasons. Burks is averaging 12.2 points and making 39.2% of his 3-pointers. He's on an expiring contract worth $10.5 million, which him an attractive trade target. Bogdanovic is averaging 20.2 points per game and hitting 41.5% of his 3-pointers this season and has one year remaining on his contract for $19 million, but just a small portion of that is guaranteed. He was the Pistons' leading scorer in 2022-23, averaging 21.6 points per game.

ANALYSIS: Pistons upgrade wing rotation, maintain flexibility in busy trade deadline

The deal has been one of the biggest, if not the biggest, trades so far during the NBA trade deadline hysteria.

However, both Pistons fans and the NBA world, in general, were befuddled by the Pistons' seemingly measly return for two key rotation players who are good shooters from deep and can slot into a playoff rotation for New York.

Also, expect another deal because the Pistons are way over the roster limit of 15 players.

[ MUST WATCH: Trade deadline reaction show, below. Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify). ]

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons fans confused about lack of return in Knicks trade