The New York Knicks turned their 2022-23 NBA season around in early December when head coach Tom Thibodeau changed his rotation. One of the changes that he made was removing veteran shooting guard Evan Fournier from the rotation.
Fournier was coming off of a big first season in New York, setting the franchise record for made 3-pointers in a season with 241. While certainly a gifted offensive player, he left a lot to be desired on the defensive end of the court, which was a big reason why Thibodeau removed him from the rotation.
It was hard to argue against as the Knicks’ performance on the court picked up after the change. A consummate professional, Fournier still put in the work and didn’t pout about his role. When his number was called, albeit rarely, he answered the call with solid play.
However, with training camp just days away, Fournier’s role doesn’t look like it will change for the upcoming season. His frustrations are beginning to boil over, as he blasted the team with a recent quote shared by The New York Post.
“I’m still in New York at the moment. I want to leave. But beyond leaving, I want to have the opportunity to get some playing time back. That’s all. That’s mostly it. Because in New York, I feel extremely good. I love living there, I love the franchise, I love playing at Madison [Square Garden], I love the guys on the team.”
That certainly doesn’t paint the Knicks organization in a good light. But, at the end of the day, the NBA is a business, and Fournier should know that as well as anyone. He has been traded technically three times in his career, as he joined New York as part of a sign-and-trade from the Boston Celtics.
While Fournier is unhappy with his current role with the Knicks, he holds a lot of value for the team. While it may not be as a contributor on the court, he is a huge asset that the team isn’t going to give away.
Possessing a team option for the 2024-25 season, Fournier is essentially on an expiring contract. That is a massive trade chip for the Knicks to have when negotiating with other teams and one they will need to pull off any blockbusters that they have been rumored to be seeking out.
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