Report: Knicks attempting to package Cam Reddish, Evan Fournier in trade

The NBA trade deadline is just under two weeks away, and the New York Knicks are expected to be major players in the trade market. 

The Knicks currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings at 26-23 but are just three games out of fifth place. With 33 games left and the league's hardest remaining schedule, the Knicks are seeking roster upgrades to bolster their efforts to earn a top-six seed in the East. The six spot is key, of course, because the top six teams in each conference avoid the play-in tournament. 

According to the Athletic's Fred Katz, the Knicks have been attempting to put a trade package together that would ship out forward Cam Reddish and guard Evan Fournier, two players who have fallen out of favor in New York.

"New York is open to moving Fournier, but it has expressed no willingness to attach sweeteners to him just to get rid of his deal," Katz said. "It’s tried pairing him and Reddish together in trades, one way to bring back larger salaries, but The Athletic hasn’t learned of any traction on deals structured that way."

Fournier signed a four-year/$78 million contract with the Knicks in August of 2021. The shooting guard started 80 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 14 points per game, but has struggled mightily this season, averaging just 6.1 points per game. Fournier has been out of the rotation for the majority of the season. 

Reddish was traded to the Knicks last January and has appeared in just 35 games, averaging 7.2 points per game. He has been removed from the Knicks rotation and has not appeared in a game since December 3.

The trade values of Reddish and Fournier are very low, so if the Knicks are able to work out a trade, the return will likely be rather minimal.

Holding on to Fournier may be the Knicks best move, as his contract may be useful in a trade for a star player this summer, according to Katz.

"Remember, this team wants a trade for a star. If they believe they can acquire one over the summer, Fournier's 2023-24 salary, which would be expiring, could help with the mathematics of the deal."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Bradley Beal are among the NBA stars who could come available this summer.