NY Knicks: Constructing the team’s dream offseason
By Max Hoover
NY Knicks use remaining cap space to sign Evan Fournier ($41.61 million/3 years)
The Knicks are going to look at their roster after draft night and see two key issues. First, they have no starting-caliber center on the roster. Second, they just drafted two wings who can shoot the 3 and defend but may not be ready to start for a team that is trying to push for a high playoff spot immediately.
Let’s also be honest about it: in the modern NBA, you cannot have enough three-point shooting. Fournier shot a blazing 46% from three during his time in Boston last season. Per Cleaning the Glass, that put him in the 98th percentile for on threes at his position. You want a guy like that on your team come playoff time.
You have to imagine he could replicate those figures playing alongside Damian Lillard and Julius Randle. Fournier, per NBA.com, is at his best in catch-and-shoot or one-dribble situations. Those opportunities seem like they could be bountiful in an offense spearheaded by Lillard and Randle.
And while no one is confusing Fournier with the greatest defenders of all time, he generally hovers just slightly below average in Defensive Box Plus/Minus. Tom Thibodeau will be able to find the defensive matchups that work for him. Plus, if either Moody or Duarte pan out as strong defenders, they could draw key defensive matchups when the situations called for them.
It’s also important to note that despite the hairline, the man is only 28 years old with a skillset that has staying power in the NBA. This would be a solid deal for the NY Knicks.