Free agency is here, and for fans of the New York Knicks, this is typically the time of year when a sub-.500 team fantasies about adding a superstar talent to revamp their return to basketball greatness.
While there is no shortage of Knicks-related rumors churning, this offseason does feel distinctly different. New York is no longer the punchline of the basketball world. The franchise is fresh off a 41-31 regular season record while earning home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason.
The team is also less reliant on the addition of a LeBron James-caliber superstar. While such a move would certainly be welcomed, the Knicks have a solid core in place. Julius Randle as emerged as an All-Star. RJ Barrett is developing into the type of player many hoped he would become. And pieces like Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickley, and Kevin Knox represent enormous potential for further growth.
The team maintained their depth by agreeing to deals with veterans Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel, Taj Gibson, and Alec Burks. Each player played a key role in New York’s success last season. They did lose sharpshooter Reggie Bullock to the Dallas Mavericks but quickly filled the void with their most notable signing so far: veteran Evan Fournier.
While the French star does not carry the star power of a player like Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, or DeMar DeRozan, he should be a welcomed addition for a Knicks squad that lacked shot creators last season. Here are three reasons fans should be excited to have Fournier in NYC:
New York Knicks: Evan Fournier’s shot-making
The catalyst to New York’s turnaround is no secret. For the first time in recent memory, the franchise has a clear identity and direction.
In a league where offensive firepower is at an all-time apex, the Knicks have uniquely built their roster. The club finished last season ranking 26th out of 30 teams in scoring, with an average of 107 per game. For the sake of context, the league-best offense (and eventual NBA champion) Milwaukee Bucks posted a 120.1 PPG average.
That’s a noticeable gap. And the Knicks seem content with it. The goal isn’t to overwhelm their opponents with offensive output. It’s to slow down the other team’s output.
The moment head coach Tom Thibedeau joined the fray, the Knicks began to build their organization around defense. And it’s worked swimmingly thus far. The team held opponents to the fewest total points in the league last season (7,540). That’s over 100 total points less than the next best team (the Lakers with 7,686).
While the team’s calling card is their defense, the franchise will benefit tremendously from a player who can create their own shot. This is the issue that handcuffed the team during their postseason series against the Hawks.
Julius Randle’s number took a hit (due to underperformance and gameplan by the other team). This left Rose as the only consistent go-to scorer on the team. Fournier’s presence will make a notable impact in this area.
The former 1st round pick has always been a threat to score. He has averaged a respectable 14.3 points per game during his nine-year NBA career. This figure has raised to 17.1 PPG over the past five seasons.
The veteran is capable of scoring at every level. He is a 38% career shooter from beyond the three-point line, a 50% shooter overall, and an 80% shooter from the free-throw line. He also brings good size and the ability to shoot well from several difficult angles.
Look at this game-winner from a few seasons ago.
Fournier can get off a quality shot despite having a defender closely guarding him. He also has the presence of mind to take a dribble to create the necessary space. The defense is still close enough to contest well. But Fournier’s shot creation gets the job done.
This is just one isolated highlight. But it serves as an example of the type of savvy that Fournier brings to the table on a nightly basis. This will be a welcomed skill set in NYC.
New York Knicks: Evan Fournier’s Olympic momentum
Fournier is unquestionably a talented player. He is also riding a wave of positive momentum that will carry him into his first season in blue and orange.
The Frenchman’s 2020-2021 NBA season ended on a bit of a down note. It seemed clear that he had found a situation with the Orlando Magic that he had grown quite comfortable with. Fournier enjoyed seven of the best seasons of his career with the Magic. He was also in the midst of a career-best year in terms of point (19.7 per game) and assist (3.7) production.
Then, the news broke. The veteran had been shipped to the Boston Celtics in a midseason trade. Boston hoped that Fournier’s aforementioned shot-making abilities would boost their sub-par second unit. Unfortunately for them, this dream never materialized.
The change in scenery caused Founier to pivot from his best career numbers to some of his worst. His point per game average plummeted to 13. His other statistics followed suit. While Fournier’s shot attempts did drop by nearly four per game, he played nearly the same number of minutes. It seemed the forward would enter free agency on a low note.
Then, the Olympic games began. This changed Fournier’s momentum drastically. The French star had the opportunity to suit up for his national team alongside fellow NBA stars Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and new Knicks teammate Frank Ntilikina.
Like many athletes, Fournier shifted into a different gear while wearing his home colors. The vet is currently leading his talented squad with 18.3 points per contest. He has been the chief source of scoring for a French team that finds themselves in a prime position to add a medal.
The international star has shown the world that he is capable of carrying the scoring load on a productive team. Knicks fans should be thrilled to employ Fournier on the heels of some of the best basketball he has ever played.
New York Knicks: The familiarity factor
This final factor, while less important than the first two, represents a nice sweetener to the Fournier signing. It was quickly clear that the Knicks had unlocked a path toward success last season. Much of that can be credited to tangible things such as the outbreak of Randle, the veteran presence of Rose, or the development of Barrett.
However, in a chemistry-oriented sport like basketball, the roster construction and individual personalities should not be underestimated. A basketball team’s success can be dictated by a single talent more so than in any other major sport. A superstar like LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo can almost single-handily carry their respective franchises to success.
On the other hand, this is also the same sport where “super teams” generally take time to gel. The Miami Heat team that features James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh failed to win a title during their inaugural season. Last year’s Nets squad led by Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving were also eliminated in the postseason. The importance of team chemistry is crucial.
The Knicks seem to be placing an appropriate amount of emphasis on maintaining their chemistry. Were there better options on the market than players like Rose, Noel, Gibson, and Burk? Absolutely! Yet, the Knicks played a high value on retaining familiar pieces.
While Fournier has been the most notable infusion of new talent, his skillset is somewhat similar to the recently departed Reggie Bullock. While the newest Knick features a more diverse offensive skill set, he is a dangerous enough shooter to spread the floor.
On paper, Fournier should be the perfect mix of an offensive upgrade and a similar skill set. While he is not the splashy name some may have hoped for, fans of the New York Knicks should be excited for Fournier to suit up for their team this season.
What do you think about the Even Founier signing?