It only took one year for New York Knicks fans to develop a love/hate relationship with Evan Fournier. The Knicks brought in the veteran on a four-year, $73 million contract last summer.
By all accounts, Fournier lived up to his contract. He torched John Starks’ previous Knicks record for most three-pointers hit in a single season. Starks connected on 217 long balls during the 1995 season. Fournier hit 241 in the same amount of games with a better percentage.
Aside from his threat as a long-distance marksman, Fournier also contributed as a playmaker, finishing seventh on New York’s roster with 2.1 assists per game. Defensively, he averaged one takeaway per game.
But despite his positive contributions, Fournier also came with some baggage. His inefficiency was occasionally met with some groans from the Madison Square Garden faithful. During one extended early-season stretch from Nov. 10 to Dec. 14, Fournier only hit 38.7% of his shots from the field.
He also didn’t factor in much on the glass. Although that has never been a focus of Fournier’s perimeter game, he tied for his second-worst rebounding average with just 2.6 boards per game.
Evan Fournier could be a valuable trade piece as the Knicks continue their offseason
Factoring all of this in, Fournier’s first season in New York certainly wasn’t the dud some people were forecasting. He hit some big-time shots and took a load off of RJ Barrett’s shoulders, especially as the season grew on.
However, Fournier’s trade value is high. He’s 29 now and will be 30 next season, and he has a favorable contract for a contending team looking to trade off young talent for counted-on scoring.
With all that in mind, here are five teams who could trade for him during the offseason.
5. Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard is giving his all to Portland and it’s time they do something about it. After trading CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans last year, it gives the future Hall of Famer even less scoring around him. In comes Evan Fournier.
While this trade wouldn’t solve everything for the Blazers, it would serve as another nice acquisition after Portland traded for Jerami Grant earlier in the summer.
The Blazers were also near the bottom of the league in 3-point percentage and while Grant’s worked on that part of his game, he certainly isn’t a knockdown shooter from long range.
Possible trade:
Blazers receive: Evan Fournier, Miles McBride, future second-round pick
Knicks receive: Josh Hart, Nassir Little
Playerwise, this trade seems to favor both teams, as New York adds two talented guards and Portland brings in the best pure scorer in the trade.
For the Knicks, this is all about a Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson reunion, because who wouldn’t want to see that happen? The Villanova guards got it done together in college, so the idea of pairing them back up at Madison Square Garden would be something to dream about.
Nassir Little is coming off his best NBA season after averaging 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds. He’s also only 22, so his future is still very bright.
The biggest thing halting this trade would be Portland’s willingness to make another move after trading McCollum last season and for Grant this offseason. However, if Lillard requests more help, management has to do that, and this could be the right move to help the Blazers win now.
4. Phoenix Suns
Another team in win-now mode, the Phoenix Suns, has plenty of players with one year left on their contracts. As the Knicks look ahead to free agency in 2023, dumping Fournier’s salary could be a smart move.
Next year’s class includes Andrew Wiggins, D’Angelo Russell, Khris Middleton, Nikola Vucevic, and plenty of other pieces who could strengthen New York’s lineup more than Fournier.
The Suns aren’t dying to add more 3-point shooting, but in this potential trade, they would clearly improve.
Possible trade:
Suns receive: Evan Fournier
Knicks receive: Dario Saric, Torrey Craig, future second-round pick
Unlike the Trail Blazers mock trade, this isn’t about taking in more prospects to keep building. This move would clearly be about cutting salary to make a run at a free agent next summer.
It wouldn’t make sense for the Knicks to do this unless they’re insistent on a certain free agent or don’t see any improvements by the trade deadline. At that point, Fournier is one of the most tradable pieces, and cutting his salary would be the most favorable move.
On the Phoenix side, it would be about adding an experienced NBA player to the mix for a championship run. Fournier has established himself in the league, so there’s no question about what he can deliver to a team looking to boost its roster.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James needs a veteran 3-point shooter and lucky for Rob Pelinka, Evan Fournier just makes the cut for the unsaid 30-years-old and under rule.
The Lakers finished 21st in 3-point percentage last season and are rumored to be cutting ties with Avery Bradley, Wayne Ellington, Carmelo Anthony, and Kent Bazemore – four of their top seven players who attempted at least 75 3-pointers in 2021-22.
Fournier is a high-volume shooter who would have no problem transitioning from the pressure of New York to the demand LeBron and LA bring.
Fournier’s also been around the block and likely wouldn’t have trouble playing in the shadow of James.
Possible Trade:
Knicks receive: Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn
Lakers receive: Evan Fournier and two future second-round picks
This trade would ultimately do wonders for the future of both teams. Unless New York can bring in another superstar and use Fournier as a key fourth option, I find it hard to believe that he’ll stay for the remainder of the three years left on his contract.
In this trade, the Knicks would receive a work in progress in Horton-Tucker and a young, scoring threat in Nunn. THT has the most upside in the potential deal, so New York may have to throw in a couple of second-round picks. However, Tucker’s potential could skyrocket with a Knicks franchise looking to build through youth.
2. Utah Jazz
I’ll stop what you’re thinking right now – New York will not be landing Donovan Mitchell in a trade package centered around Evan Fournier. However, the recent trade of Rudy Gobert opens up the door for Utah to change its style of play and pick up another 3-point threat.
Last season, the Jazz were middle of the pack in 3-point percentage, but in today’s NBA, you can never go wrong with adding more. Fournier would also give Mitchell another scoring option, which is really what Utah should be the most focused on if they plan on luring him to stick around.
Possible Trade:
Knicks receive: Patrick Beverley, future first-round pick
Jazz receive: Evan Fournier, future second-round pick
Very rarely do you see player-for-player straight-up trades in the NBA anymore, but this is one of the few times it could help out both teams.
As mentioned before, Fournier would give Mitchell another solid scoring option who can create his own shot.
Beverley would fit like a glove in Tom Thibodeau’s defensive-minded system on New York’s side. He brings a certain type of grit that can’t be matched and would be adopted by Knicks nation.
The pick swaps would likely go in New York’s favor, as Fournier has a better all-around game, but Beverley’s biggest asset could be worth trading for. With the addition of Jalen Brunson, Fournier’s offensive role will likely be reduced, so why not bring in a defensive mastermind?
1. New Orleans
To me, this trade makes all too much sense. With Zion Williamson signing his contract extension, the Pelicans are dark horses to contend for a championship next season. Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, and Devonte’ Graham form one of the most talented and youthful lineups in the Association.
But in the NBA, a strong bench is just as important. We saw that play out as the Golden State Warriors captured the 2022 NBA Championship over a Boston Celtics team with a depleted bench.
Fournier as the sixth man on New Orleans would just make too much sense. The biggest problem would likely be who the Knicks would get in return. The Pelicans wouldn’t think of trading any of their core, so it would have to be a trade made up of prospects and picks.
Possible Trade:
Knicks receive: Larry Nance Jr., Trey Murphy III, Naji Marshall
Pelicans receive: Evan Fournier, two future second-round picks
Even with the core of Williamson, Ingram, and Graham, the Pelicans still have a slew of other young pieces. Larry Nance Jr. is still only 29 years old and would serve as the player with the contract that helps get this deal done financially.
It would be tough for New York to pry both Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III from New Orleans, and something tells me Jones would require the Knicks to send something else along with Fournier. So in this mock trade, New York settles for Murphy III and Marshall.
Besides adding a veteran scorer, the Pelicans are in dire need of 3-point shooting. New Orleans finished 27th in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season, so the addition of Fournier would help bump them up in that category.
I do see the Knicks having to part ways with a few second-round picks, which only makes sense for getting multiple prospects with value in this deal. However, the Pelicans want to win now, and Fournier would give them that chance while keeping Jones, who is one of their best assets.
The biggest plus for New York would be continuing to build a roster centered around players who are still years away from their primes. Nance Jr. also only has one year remaining on his contract, so the Knicks could easily free up cap space, making this potential deal all the more appealing.
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