NY Knicks: Should they have traded for Evan Fournier?
By Max LoSardo
NY Knicks: Evan Fournier would’ve likely been a rental
Fournier is going to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. So, unless he expressed interest in signing a long-term extension from the start, he may have ended up as merely a rental. Plus, if they really do want him, they can sign him outright in the offseason without relinquishing any assets.
They could have up to $60 million in cap space in free agency, so it’s not like signing Fournier would restrain their flexibility. They still have the capability to sign Fournier plus add another piece, whether it’d also be through free agency (Lonzo Ball?) or through a trade (Karl Anthony Towns?). Additionally, Fournier is not a franchise-changing player, and the Knicks may want to save as many of their assets as possible for when the next superstar hits the trading block.
Fournier may have been a bit redundant on the Knicks, too. Alec Burks and Reggie Bullock are shooting quite similarly to Fournier and are much better defenders.
Fournier – 46.1 / 38.8 / 79.9
Burks – 41.8 / 39.9 / 85.4
Bullock – 41.7 / 39.4 / 85.7
The Knicks didn’t want to disrupt their team chemistry, and Fournier taking away court time from players who are having very similar seasons to him may have done just that. Fournier’s subpart defense would have stood out in New York. Per ESPN, Fournier’s Real Defensive Plus-Minus is -1.63, ranking 94/111 in the league for shooting guards. If it makes NY Knicks fans feel any better, the Celtics are still not title contenders.