Predicting where Knicks’ Derrick Rose, Evan Fournier, Cam Reddish will be traded
Evan Fournier – Los Angeles Lakers
Evan Fournier is useless to the Knicks at this point, but his contract has been/will make it difficult for a deal to go through. He’s making $18 million this season and will make $18.9 million in 2023-24 before having a $19 million option in 2024-25.
His three-point shooting could certainly be of value to another team, but the problem is that he isn’t a consistent shooter and is a non-factor on the defensive end. Fournier managed to break John Starks’ single-season record for most threes made last year, but in the 13 games that he’s played this season, he’s shot a mere 33.3% from deep. With New York embracing younger players on the roster like Grimes, Quickley, and McBride, Fournier’s time with the Knicks has nearly come to a close. All that’s left is for the front office to find a trade partner.
Of course, the Lakers are a team that could use Fournier’s shooting, but again, his contract is a problem. With LA still having Russell Westbrook, the organization can’t take on Fournier. However, the Lakers are reportedly interested in moving Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn ahead of the deadline. Both Beverley and Nunn are on expiring contracts and wouldn’t move the needle for New York, but it’s already been made clear that the Knicks won’t be making a playoff push this season.
Sending Fournier and Reddish to LA for Beverley, Nunn, and draft compensation (maybe a second-round pick) is something that New York’s front office needs to consider, at the least. There’s no denying that acquiring both Fournier and Reddish would help meet the Lakers’ current needs.
The Knicks aren’t going to get a favorable return for Fournier, that’s for sure. The front office has their work cut out for them over these next couple of months.