Report: Celtics lose ground in contract discussions with Evan Fournier

It appears the Boston Celtics and Evan Fournier will part ways this summer.

According to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald, negotiations between the C's and Fournier are close to stalling, with the team unwilling to meet the Frenchman's asking price of $80 million over four years. 

It's unclear what the Celtics are offering Fournier, but a source told Murphy, "it's not looking good."

According to Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer, the New York Knicks are among teams that have expressed interest in Fournier this summer. However, it's unclear if the franchise is willing to meet his $20 million-per-year asking price. 

The Celtics acquired Fournier from the Orlando Magic last season. Between the two teams, he averaged 17.1 points, three rebounds and 3.4 assists in 42 games while shooting 45.7% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range. 

Fournier is playing well in Japan at this summer's Tokyo Olympics, leading France to a 3-0 record in group play, including a 28-point performance in a win over the United States. He averaged 24.5 points over the first two games. 

The Celtics have been busy this summer, sending Tristan Thompson to the Sacramento Kings as part of a three-team deal that brought back Atlanta Hawks' Kris Dunn, Bruno Fernando and a 2024 second-round pick.

Boston also included Moses Brown, a promising young big man brought in as part of the Kemba Walker trade, in a deal for Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Richardson.