Evan Fournier finally has a chance to get his career back on track
Evan Fournier's New York Knicks nightmare is over. The veteran guard was traded to the Detroit Pistons as part of the deal to send Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic to New York.
The veteran had been glued to the New York bench since being removed from Tom Thibodeau's rotation in November 2022.
Fournier was available for a news conference with Pistons media following a practice session on Monday. He told the reporters in attendance that he's "excited to be out of New York" and is looking forward to getting to work with his new team.
"You go through physicals," Fournier said. "You meet everyone. You go through plays. A few practices. I'm really excited to finally be out of New York. So, looking forward to a new opportunity."
The 31-year-old has struggled to find a role in his last two stops. He had an unproductive spell with the Boston Celtics and then joined the Knicks as they searched to add ball-handling and firepower.
Despite being unable to thrive with those teams, there's no doubting Fournier's talent. He's an exceptional movement shooter. He can create off the dribble. He can score across all three levels. And he puts maximum effort on the defensive end.
Detroit has been in dire need of some veteran help. Fournier's experience with the Orlando Magic during their rebuild will likely come in handy. His ball-handling and playmaking skills will help unlock some of the young offensive talent within Detroit's rotation.
There is a $19 million team option on Fournier's contract for next season. The Pistons are likely to turn down that option and allow the veteran wing to become an unrestricted free agent.
If he can impress throughout the remainder of the season, Fournier could find himself being coveted by multiple teams in the league. Or, he could re-sign with Detroit for multiple years.
Fournier finally has a chance to get back to playing basketball. The Pistons have a hungry veteran with a point to prove. It will be interesting to see how many minutes he's given throughout the remainder of the season. Especially as his NBA career is likely resting on how these next few months work out for him.
More must-reads: