Knicks general manager Scott Perry had contemplated pursuing swingman DeMar DeRozan in free agency this summer, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. DeRozan eventually joined the Bulls through a three-year, $81.9MM sign-and-trade with San Antonio. The Knicks ultimately decided to add sharpshooting wing Evan Fournier on a four-year contract that could be worth up to $78MM.
The 28-year-old Fournier, who connected on 41.3% of his 6.7 three-point attempts per game for the Magic and Celtics last year, is potentially a cleaner offensive fit with the Knicks than the 32-year-old DeRozan would have been. DeRozan, a four-time All-Star while with the Raptors, is an excellent ball handler and an elite mid-range jump shooter, but lacks a reliable outside shot.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- The fate of new Raptors point guard Goran Dragic is one of the prime subjects of a detailed new mailbag with Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Koreen contends that, because Dragic is on an expiring $19MM deal, he may have value in a trade. Koreen adds that a buyout would only transpire if Toronto team president Masai Ujiri is unable to find a suitable trade partner for Dragic before the 2022 deadline. Koreen also addresses the team’s thinking in not extending offers to free agent centers Jarrett Allen and Richaun Holmes.
- After undergoing some significant behind-the-scenes changes during the offseason, the Celtics also made some notable changes on the court. In a new article, Zach Harper of The Athletic recaps and grades the club’s summer. The club added point guard Dennis Schröder on a team-friendly one-year, $5.9MM deal. Boston also traded away oft-injured point guard Kemba Walker in exchange for former Celtics All-Star big man Al Horford. The team also moved on from swingman Evan Fournier, decided to take a flyer on 3-and-D wing Josh Richardson, and added former Boston reserve Enes Kanter to their forward and center rotations, respectively. Harper forecasts that Boston ultimately upgraded its roster and could become a threat in the East again.
- With training camp fast approaching, it is quite possible that the Sixers will now be affected by an extended Ben Simmons holdout ahead of a blockbuster trade, Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice writes. If a deal can’t be reached before the preseason starts, Neubeck wonders if the rest of the club can deal with the drama. Neubeck opines that, should a teammate, coach, or executive besmirch Simmons to the media, it could adversely affect Philadelphia’s potential return package in a trade. Neubeck also speculates about how an on-court absence for Simmons could expand the roles of Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle.
Rich Paul will get angry if Ben is not traded this month
What does it mean?
Stars from Rich Paul house won’t sign with 76ers as free agents in the future
Trade now
Just waiting for Prince or Bev to become tradable and the deal goes down.
If you are GMs, you don’t create troubles to Rich Paul
You don’t become trouble makers
The time you decide to make a non stat post is an ominous warning not to eff with Rich Paul lol. Eff Rich Paul, if it wasnt for his best friend Queen James he’d have no pull at all.
If it wasn’t for systematic racism then Adam Silver would have no pull, what’s your point?
Fournier is a much better fit for Knicks offense. I like DeRozan. But his gm is similar to RJs. Fournier shooting spaces the floor better for RJ n Randle. Perry got this one right. Knicks are better on paper. A lot riding on Kemba just staying healthy. With our depth at PG. We can help him manage the season. So then be strong for playoffs. This is going to be a fun year for Knicks fans.
I like what Celtics did. They have depth and youth. This team plays well. And their two stars play well. They could contend for East. But it will take a 10 deep effort. I’m a big believer in what Horford brings to this team. As a team player. Was never fully appreciated before. Williams, Nesmith, Langford, Bruno time to grow up.
DeRozan is better than Fournier in almost every way on a basketball court. Far far far more athletic, much better rebounder, much better defender, more versatile (Demar can play 1-4), much better finisher at the rim, much better scorer overall. I have always liked Evan’s game even/especially when he was heavily underrated in Denver & as a key member of the French national team but NYK is gonna take a step back this season unless RJ leaps into all-star status (possible but unlikely). Evan definitely a better shooter than Demar but hard to say he’s a better shooter than the guy he’s replacing in Bullock. And like I say he’s not on DeRozan’s level at all & the past decade has proven this conclusively. NYK also taking a big step back defensively at the pg spot with Kemba. Obv they’re looking to be more potent offensively which was necessary but when they are losing so much defensively what effect will it really have?
DeRozan is an absolute sieve on defense.
Well you just lost all credibility
We got Mitch back. In a contract yr. He controls the middle. Everyone plays D under Thibs. Fournier only needs to play good team D. RJ is our stopper. How could Knicks take a step back. When we are deeper and better offensively. Considering you root for a team. The coach totally resurrected. You painfully miss Thibs effect on this team. The East is better and deeper. Hawks won’t be top 4 this yr. They will fight it out with Plenty teams including Knicks.
Bucks, Nets, Sixers (they will wake up and make trade). Are top 3. Celtics, Heat are next. Then Hawks, Knicks, Pacers, Hornets, Bulls. Knicks are deeper than any team IMO. Their top 10 is as good as any in NBA. What we miss is that top 10 guy. But we are built as a TEAM under Thibs. Funny you can’t see that. Since that’s exactly what McMillan did in Atlanta. Basketball is a team gm. Your bench also has to win games. And Defense is half the game. We are a top 3 defensive team. And Now Mitch is back. Grimes and McBride are two excellent defenders. No team scares me.
You ask how could NYK take a step back but I just explained it lol. Tough defense & Randle/Rose was NYK’s main weapons last season. All 3 of those things were eviscerated/clamped during the gentleman’s sweep y’all caught a few months ago. I like Mitch & IF he can stay healthy he helps your d. But you already have an extremely similar guy in Nerlens. Mitch is an upgrade from Taj but you basically got 2 average 5s. You got considerably worse defensively on the perimeter by losing Bullock & Elf for Fournier & Kemba. So just consider the fact that your defense already weren’t good enough & now it’s decidedly worse. You’re talking about guys like Duece McBride & Grimes as excellent defenders. Lol I mean 1st off Grimes isn’t an excellent defender at all. If he’s getting pt this yr the Knicks are in trouble fr. Duece is gonna be a good defender but he’s green asf rn, he’s gonna get eaten like brunch vs guys like Kyrie/Schroeder/FVV this season. IQ is a bad defender, Obi is a bad defender, Kemba is a bad defender. Randle definitely surprised me last yr & may well continue improving. He’s OBVIOUSLY the reason NYK is relevant at all rn much more than Thibs or anyone else. Thibs is a good coach no doubt but I mean he’s the same coach that had garbage defenses in Minnesota without great DEFENDERS like Noah/Butler/Deng. Thibs started Elf for a reason lol alot of NYK fans are gonna learn that this season. This defense is gonna be a lot leakier. Kemba also isn’t the type of pg best suited to be a pass first guy that can keep all these score 1st guys like Randle/Obi/RJ/IQ/Evan/Burks happy. The talent level is higher than it was last yr but it still isn’t on par with the best in the East but more importantly the fit is worse & the defense won’t be as good. This is a .500 team that’s gonna have to worry about the play-in, even if Randle is all-nba again, which I tend to bet against tbh
Side note, is Ice Trae the new Reggie Miller to Knicks fans?
Could be ?? We’ll see on Christmas. Santa is coming for him.
Looking forward to seeing maxey run the offense and actually shoot the ball. As Simmons sits and pays instead of showing the league he’s a professional and respects the game enough to honor his contract, play the game and if the Sixers find a deal that justifies moving him to improve the number 1 seed and top starting 5 in the NBA then so be it.
Holmes was an unrestricted free agent.