The Knicks‘ have turned their free agent agreement with swingman Evan Fournier into a sign-and-trade deal with the Celtics, announcing today in a press release that they’ve officially acquired Fournier and two future second-round picks from Boston in exchange for cash. Fournier received a four-year deal that includes a fourth-year team option and can reportedly be worth up to $78MM.
Turning the transaction into a sign-and-trade will allow the Celtics to create a traded player exception worth Fournier’s first-year salary. That new trade exception will be worth $17.1MM, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
The Knicks, meanwhile, had the cap room necessary to sign Fournier outright, but will pick up some extra draft assets due to their willingness to work with Boston on a sign-and-trade agreement.
According to Himmelsbach (Twitter link), one of the two second-round picks the Knicks are receiving is heavily (top-55) protected — it’s the Hornets’ 2022 second-rounder. The other pick will be a 2023 second-rounder that originally belonged to Oklahoma City, Washington, Miami, or Dallas.
It’s a similar move to the one the Celtics made last fall when Gordon Hayward left for Charlotte in free agency — the Hornets acquired a pair of second-rounders in that deal, while Boston created a $28.5MM trade exception.
Fournier, who had spent six seasons in Orlando entering the 2020/21 season, was traded from the Magic to the Celtics in a midseason deal that used the Hayward trade exception. He dealt with a handful of health issues over the course of the season, but had a solid overall year when he was available, averaging 17.1 PPG, 3.4 APG, and 3.0 RPG on .457/.413/.788 shooting in 42 total games (30.0 MPG) for Orlando and Boston.
The Celtics explored re-signing Fournier, but recognized they’d face competition on the open market and pivoted to acquiring Josh Richardson (using the rest of the Hayward TPE) to address the wing position. The Knicks ultimately outbid Boston to land Fournier.
“We identified Evan as a key addition as we entered free agency and are ecstatic that he’s joining us,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. “He’s a great teammate, a fierce competitor, and a perfect complement to our returning players. He wants to be a part of what we are building here, and we are happy to have him join our family.”
The Knicks have now officially completed their deals with Fournier, Nerlens Noel, and Kemba Walker. The team still has to announce a few other signings, including Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, and Taj Gibson.
I don’t see the point the C’s will blow it like the Hayward’s it’s really mind boggling they made Stevens president/GM this franchise imo is turning into a mess they have to great young guys who can’t play together and to make matters worse you resign the cancer from last season to a 4yr 19+ yr deal
I mean, there also isn’t much point in signing Fournier for 80M.
Smart is a cancer? Smart is probably one of the few things holding this team together at this point.
lol wtf are you talking about. Brad is making small and smart moves that will open a max slot next year for the Celtics and a bunch of Tax Exemptions. They got Shroeder for cheap and their young guys lke Nesmith/Langford look like they improved. they have a solid team with flexibility unlike last year
Smart/Brown/Nesmith/Tatum/Horford
Pritchard/Shroeder/Richardson/Langford/RobWill
with ways to add in the trade deadline
You must not fallow basketball at all with this sign they no longer have the space for a max contract next year know your fact before jumping on some one
Tax exemptions? Are they putting money into their 401k? Brad Stevens is pretty clever but I think you meant traded player exceptions?
I love how you explain all these transactions Luke. I would be wondering, why would the Knicks do a sign-and-trade if they have the cap room to just sign Evan Fournier? Now with your explanations I can see why the Knicks would do it.. and also why the Celtics would do it. Excellent as usual Luke.
Danny Ainge sees this and creamed his pants. He loves useless trade exceptions. He thought Brad well.
Celtics traded second round picks for cash
Knicks paid cash
Useless?
Celtics just signed Marcus Smart to a 17million extension. They have 26 million number wrapped up in AL Horford. What do you think they are gonna use the TPE for?
Beal? Trade is set up. Beal just needs to push Washington and the Celtics are lined up to get him or another star who wants out.
Celtics addressed their youth and the issues on the floor by hiring Ime who was endorsed by Smart, Brown and Tatum.
Future is bright for the Celts, Brad has positioned them to a positive financial situation while teams dumped millions into average players.
I disagree.
If we are being honest, the Celtics have had a treasure chest of first and second round picks and haven’t used any of them in a trade. Maybe Stevens will be a little more open to moving picks/young players but this “the Celtics have all these assets to move in a trade for a star” has been going around for 3-4 seasons now.
Until I see otherwise, I don’t know if any star player is going to want to go to Boston. That IT trade is going to haunt them for a bit. It was probably the right move to make in the end, it iust rubbed a lot of players the wrong way for the Celtics to trade their star player who left it all on the court for them.
“Haven’t used any of them in a trade.”? They’ve acquired Kenna Walker, Kyrie Irving, Evan Fournier, amongst others, with some of those picks
lol facts. these casuals dont make sense. boston just had bad luck with injuries. if kyrie stayed, this team could have probably made the finals
Theyve acquired Jason Tatum, Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith because of trades they made with those “treasure chest” of picks
Really just one 2nd rounder. Wait to see which way more of the “Less Favorable” or “More Favorable” arrows point, to see if it was worth doing.
Luke, do you know how many times that teams have actually used all or part of a traded player exception? Say, in the last five years?
It’s pretty uncommon. We see when they are created and when they expire, but seldom when they are actually used.
If a team doesn’t use a TPE, then what is the actual benefit to the team of receiving one?
Celtics haven’t been shy about using them. They used the Hayward exception to land Fournier and Richardson.
Haven’t kept track over the years of how many get used, and it would take a long time to go back and figure that out. But I’d estimate it’s about 20-25% of them — maybe less, but that includes all the small ones that are mostly useless. A good chunk of the bigger ($10MM+) ones get at least partially used.
Thanks, Luke. So how would you explain what the benefit is for a team when they don’t use a TPE?
It’s interesting that 3/4 of the teams (if your estimate is close) that have TPEs don’t end up using them and letting them expire.
A lot of trade exceptions are created almost incidentally because the salary going back and forth in a trade never perfectly matches. In that case, teams aren’t going out of their way to generate them, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when they don’t get used.
I don’t think any team that DOES go out of its way to create a TPE (like Boston in this case) does so thinking that it won’t get used. It gives them more options and roster flexibility both at the trade deadline and next offseason, and if it doesn’t end up being useful, the cost wasn’t that significant.
They use it all the time. You just started following ball lol.
Sensible for both sides. Celtics could use another large trade exception since they’re already close to the tax, plus they get a little cash. And the Knicks, of course, get a few 2nds.
First off the trade is self explanatory. Try reading. Celtics figure to make a run in playoffs. They expect to be better than last yr. And they should be as long as healthy . Do they can pick up a nice player at TD. Or players who get bought out. It’s called managing a team. They are making sure they are ready for it.
Good for Knicks we pick up more assets. You can always use draft picks. Just look at all the talent this year in 2nd rd. Plus you can always use them in trades. It’s a good move for both teams. NY is ready for a Shooter. 20 a gm from the outside. Will make RJ and Randle much better. YEEeeesssss
OH boy I hope that TPE can shoot.