Kofi Inkoom
Evan Fournier, a seasoned player for the Knicks, expresses his desire to continue his NBA career, although it might not be with the New York team.
The term “disappointment” aptly characterizes the past year for Evan Fournier, the 30-year-old wing. Not only did he participate in just 27 games and lose his spot in the rotation for the New York Knicks, but he also faced disappointment on the international stage.
Despite being a veteran, Fournier couldn’t lead the French national team in this year’s World Cup, as they failed to progress past the group stage after achieving bronze medals in the previous two World Cups.
LATVIA ELIMINATES FRANCE FROM THE WORLD CUP IN AN EPIC SHOWDOWN. Clutch moment #FIBAWC x #WinForLatvia
— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) August 27, 2023
As he looks ahead, Fournier’s focus now shifts swiftly to the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season, amidst considerable uncertainty surrounding his career.
The recently concluded year turned out to be his most challenging since his NBA debut in the 2012-13 season. Spending a significant portion of the year on the bench in New York, the veteran didn’t hesitate to voice his discontent shortly after the team’s playoff loss.
“You know I’m not gonna be back,” Fournier told reporters after the Knicks fell to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. “There’s no way they’re gonna keep me. I would be very surprised if they do. So, we’ll see. It’s obviously not in my hands though.”
Considerable speculation surrounds the possibility of a trade involving Fournier in the upcoming offseason for New York, a challenging endeavor due to his substantial guaranteed salary of $18.85 million and an existing team option for the 2024-25 season.
Fournier himself has expressed his inclination towards a trade. In the aftermath of France’s departure from the FIBA World Cup, the former first-round pick was asked about his NBA future, and he emphasized that the ultimate decision rests with the Knicks.
“We’ll see. Obviously, I want to play again,” Fournier told Eurohoops regarding his situation with New York. “I want to have success, I know I can help, I know I can play, I know I can do many things.”
Upon his arrival at the Knicks in preparation for the 2021-22 season, Fournier participated in a total of 80 games during his inaugural year with the New York squad.
He achieved an average of 14.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, showcasing a 38.9 percent success rate in three-point shooting – the second-highest percentage on the team among those who attempted a minimum of 300 three-point shots that year.
Subsequently, Fournier found himself benched by head coach Tom Thibodeau and excluded from the regular rotation. During the offseason, the French specialist in three-point shooting unveiled that he shares no rapport with his coach.
Additionally, he conveyed that Thibodeau never engaged in discussions with him regarding the course of action following his removal from the team’s active lineups.
“As you know it’s not in my hands,” Fournier went on to say recently. “If the Knicks want to keep me, I’ll have to stay, if they want to trade me I’ll have to go.”
Finally, with the upcoming season on the horizon, the Knicks are gearing up to vie for top-tier status within the Eastern Conference. However, retaining Fournier doesn’t seem advantageous for either the team or the player. As a result, the prospect of his trade in the coming months appears highly probable.