One item on the New York Knicks offseason agenda is making a decision on Bojan Bogdanovic.
The Knicks must decide whether to guarantee Bogdanovic's $19 million salary for 2024-25. If they decline to guarantee it, making Bogdanovic a free agent, he'll carry a cap hit of $2 million this season.
Bogdanovic, who the Knicks traded for in February, is something of a key piece for New York, as his salary makes for an excellent trade chip this offseason. The Knicks are said to be pursuing a trade for another star player. If the Knicks declined to guarantee Bogdanovic's contract, they'd have to trade one of their core pieces like Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, or Donte DiVincenzo in a deal to make salaries work.
From the sounds of it, the Knicks are going to be guaranteeing Bogdanovic's salary to keep their options open.
Speaking on his show "The Putback," SNY's Ian Begley said he believes the Knicks will pick up Bogdanovic's contract.
"I do think, ultimately, they will pick up that option," Begley said. "I don't know if a decision has been made yet, I don't know if it's been communicated yet, but I would think that they do pick it up."
Furthermore, Matt Moore of The Action Network reported that the Knicks are "more than happy to keep" Bogdanovic, barring a big trade offer.
It's essentially a no-lose situation for the Knicks. Keeping Bogdanovic on the roster gives them a sharp-shooting forward who can spread the floor and create his own shot. Bogdanovic hit some big shots off the bench for the Knicks in their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers before he suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
And if the opportunity presents itself, Bogdanovic's contract would be key in a trade.
Things can change over the next two weeks, of course, but keeping Bogdanovic around seems like an easy choice for the Knicks.
