The New York Knicks are eager to improve their roster. They have a ton of draft capital and are rumored to be chasing a superstar. The Knicks have been patiently waiting for a deal that pushes them into title contention. Without a blockbuster, the biggest move to happen before training camp could be an Evan Fournier trade.
The 6’7 wing has made it clear that he wants out of New York. He was rarely in the rotation last season, but the 30-year-old believes he can still make an impact. Fournier will play for France in the FIBA World Cup this summer, but does he find a new home for the 2023-24 NBA season?
Fournier is set to make $18.8 million this year with a $19 million team option for the 2024-25 campaign. Trading him won’t be easy, but the Knicks have options.
Trades that get Evan Fournier off the New York Knicks
5. Get PF help from Jazz
The Knicks are thin at the forward spots. They have options that can slide down and play the three, but Julius Randle is the only true power forward on their roster. Isaiah Roby is penciled in as the backup, but his non-guaranteed deal could be axed during training camp.
New York needs help at the position, and they could look to acquire a versatile option from the Jazz. Utah added John Collins this summer to create a bit of a logjam. The Jazz could look to clear it by taking on Evan Fournier and a first-round draft pick.
Olynyk’s versatile skill set fits on any roster. The 6’11 big man can stretch the floor, rebound, defend multiple positions, and operate as a secondary playmaker. That is just what New York needs backing up Julius Randle. Simone Fontecchio is a salary-matcher in this trade and would not be part of the team’s plans.
The Jazz would be eager to pick up additional draft capital, even if it is just a heavily-protected first-round pick. With Monty Williams in Detroit, that selection could easily be the in the 20s in a couple of years and becomes another trade chip for Utah as they look to build out their roster.
The New York Knicks do not have to just trade Evan Fournier. They could look to get involved in a larger deal to make the salary-matching work.
4. Get involved in Harden trade
James Harden wants out of Philadelphia, and his preferred destination is to return home to Los Angeles. The Clippers have interest, but Daryl Morey is holding out for a massive return. The 76ers cannot afford to trade Harden at a discount because falling out of contention could mean losing Joel Embiid.
The two sides are struggling to work out a trade, but the Knicks could be the perfect third team to complete this deal. New York could add in a third first-round draft pick in exchange for Norman Powell, which gives the Sixers the ammunition to trade for another star.
This trade could hinge on Terance Mann. The Clippers are reportedly unwilling to deal him for Harden. LA has an aging roster, and Mann is a valued contributor that is still in his prime. The Clippers would have to give up Mann, two first-round picks, and salary-matching pieces to make this trade work, which is more than they want to pay.
This trade could quickly crumble, and it is fair to wonder how much Norman Powell would play in New York with Jalen Brunson, R.J. Barrett, Josh Hart, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Donte DiVincenzo all vying for minutes. It seems like an odd fit, but one that could better position the Knicks to make a superstar trade.
Consider this one unlikely, but that is not the only superstar trade that the Knicks could get involved in.
3. Upgrade during Siakam deal
Four-team trades are rare, but this blockbuster has plenty of moving pieces, and the Raptors benefit from getting more teams involved. The Hawks want Pascal Siakam, but Toronto is not excited about the players they can get in return. Adding in two other teams allows the Raptors to flip those pieces and get additional draft capital.
The Knicks would love to get a hybrid forward with the size and versatility to guard multiple positions. Hunter has four years left on his contract and is slightly overpaid, but the 25-year-old has room to grow. He could be a key piece for the Knicks moving forward.
Trade details:
Knicks get: De’Andre Hunter
Raptors receive: Evan Fournier, Tim Hardaway Jr., 3 1st-round picks, 2028 2nd-round pick
Hawks acquire: Pascal Siakam, 2024 2nd round pick (via Dallas)
Mavericks land: Clint Capela
The Knicks give up Evan Fournier and one first-round pick to get Hunter. Dallas takes Capela for two second-rounders and Tim Hardaway Jr., which leaves the Raptors with two wings and four draft picks. It is a massive haul for a player on an expiring contract, but that is the only way Siakam is leaving Toronto.
The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks both fill a need in this trade, and the Atlanta Hawks go all-in around their new big three. It is a massive gamble, but one that Atlanta wants to take. If the Knicks could upgrade Fournier to Hunter, they should be excited about this deal. Yes, taking on Hunter’s long-term deal is a risk, but if he stays healthy and keeps improving, that will be a non-factor.
2. Bullock reunion in NYC
The San Antonio Spurs have been the team most linked to Evan Fournier. There is interest in pairing him with his countryman Victor Wembanyama to ease the highly-touted prospect’s introduction to the NBA. San Antonio also had cap space and was willing to take on bad contracts, but that has been used this offseason.
The Spurs remain the favorites to land Fournier, and if the Knicks are willing to wait until after September 10th, the deal could look like this.
Bullock cannot be traded with another player until two months after he was dealt from Dallas to San Antonio in the Grant Williams sign-and-trade. That is still three-plus weeks before training camp begins, so it should create zero issues for either team.
The Pistons’ selection in 2024 is heavily protected over four drafts, and there is zero guarantee that it stays a first-rounder. If it does, it will likely be in the mid-to-late first round. The Knicks should be willing to part with it for a wing upgrade. They would have to add Khem Birch, but his expiring contract could be used in another trade or get bought out.
Reggie Bullock was a key rotation piece for Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks in 2021 when they surprisingly made the playoffs. Expect him to fit right in as a 3-and-D option that improves the Knicks’ chances of making a deep playoff run.
1. Dame blockbuster
Damian Lillard wants out of Portland, but the only team on his trade list right now is the Miami Heat. There has been little traction between the two sides, and Lillard will have a decision to make soon. Does he stay with the Trail Blazers or expand his list of teams? Portland cannot afford to deal him for anything less than top dollar, and that won’t happen with just one bidder.
The New York Knicks could offer a massive haul if they get involved. There would be fit questions with Lillard and Jalen Brunson sharing the same backcourt, but New York has been waiting for a superstar to hit the trade market. Dame is available and worth going all-in to acquire.
Giving up Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley hurts, but the Knicks would still have the assets to hunt for another star. Lillard, Brunson, and R.J. Barrett are a strong top three, and New York could flip Barrett and draft capital for the next star to hit the market. It would mean flirting with the second tax apron, but the Knicks would be a feared team.
Will the New York Knicks trade Evan Fournier this offseason? The 6’7 wing hopes for a deal, but there are zero guarantees. He could land in San Antonio or be traded in a multiple team deal, so stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.
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