Evan Fournier said it took him a little time to figure out his role with the Knicks, as Marc Berman of The New York Post relays.
“I feel like it really took me a couple of months to figure out how I would be able to help this team,” Fournier said Wednesday night in Charlotte after breaking John Starks’ single-season record of 217 three-pointers. “I want to thank Thibs (coach Tom Thibodeau) for putting me in that position. That’s what he expected from me. It took me a couple of months to understand that.”
Fournier has been durable this season, appearing in 72 of the team’s 74 games. He’s started all 72 of those contests, averaging 14.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 1.0 SPG on .419/.394/.696 shooting.
“I’ve always been an aggressive player, coming off curls and stuff,” Fournier said. “We have guys that do that already. My role was going to be different from the start. To find a reason and understand what’s expected of you when you’re new, sometime it takes a little bit. Since January, I feel a lot better and really understand my role and it’s been better since then.”
Berman thinks Fournier’s trade value has increased with his strong recent play. Since the start of January, Fournier is shooting 41.4% from deep on 8.7 attempts per game.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- New York got a glimpse of what the team could do without Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson in Wednesday’s 121-106 victory over Charlotte, Berman writes in a separate piece. After signing a long-term extension last summer, Randle’s erratic behavior and his dip in production has led to speculation that he might be traded this summer. Robinson, meanwhile, is an unrestricted free agent in 2022, and it’s not clear whether he wants to re-sign with the Knicks.
- Derrick Rose hasn’t given up hope of returning to the court this season despite missing the past 45 games after undergoing a pair of ankle surgeries. With eight games remaining on the schedule, time is running out, but he’s making progress. “He did some in practice today,” Thibodeau said, per Berman of The New York Post. “He’s in the next phase right now. He still hasn’t taken contact.”
- Within the same article, Berman writes that Randle is also inching closer to a return. He’s currently sidelined with a sore right quadriceps tendon, but was listed as a game-time decision before being held out of Friday’s game against Miami. He has missed three straight games with the injury.
To the person who linked to the basketball reference stat page for Fournier in January- that’s awesome. Keep doing that.
Look, the Knicks made a lot of bad signings last offseason, but I don’t understand why so many fans were/are down on Fournier’s deal. He’s given the team exactly what you would have expected and needed. 40% three point shooting on a high volume of takes, complimentary scoring and hard work on D. There are guys getting paid $19M a year that aren’t offering anything close to what he is for the Knicks. I’m not saying it’s a great deal, I just don’t believe it is a bad one either.
He’s horrible. His job is to shoot, and shoot well. His percentages are not on par for someone at his supposed level – under 70% on free throws? Hustling and actually being decent on D are two different things. He’s not good at either and looks athletically lost. I’ve seen kids pass better in middle school than he does and his turnovers are usually comical.
Off the bench for $10M per I can see, but the Knicks have him starting. That’s the part that hurts.
39.4% on threes, and an all-time single season Knicks record of 218 three pointers. Randle wasn’t good on D last year, but he hustled. Barrett isn’t good on D, but he hustles. Which one of you Knicks fans were ready to poop on Randle last year, or Barrett now? Hustle on D is better than what Zinger did during his time in NY or Randle this year. This team wasn’t filled with great defensive players last year, they just hustled.
And $10M deal? Isn’t that what Walker is on? Would you rather have Walker at $10M, or Fournier at $19M?
Look, deal him this offseason to get out of the contract, it’s fine. I’m not saying he’s a good value, I just don’t think he’s that bad of one either.
He isn’t shooting enough FTs for it to matter. He went from 3+ to 1.4. He isn’t driving to the basket they are asking him to do different things.
Simple. Because Fournier’s contract is the only FA contract they signed that currently constitutes a bad contract, and its aggravated by him not being the kind of fit on offense that was hoped for. You may not like some other players, but their contracts aren’t an issue.
Fournier’s contract wouldn’t be an issue if he signed the 2+1 that the rest of the FA class signed. He’s not a bad player, and his last contract (Orlando) was for almost the same annual amount (and he was traded under it). It also wouldn’t be an issue even at 3 years if his skill set fit the team better.
It’s a bad deal because of the third year guarantee. If it was a 2+1 with a team option on the 3rd like Noel’s I’d be ok with it.
Having said that I didn’t like it from the start—I didn’t understand who they were bidding against for Fournier, and frankly he’s been even worse than I expected.
His 3pt % is a little better than his career average. What exactly were you expecting?
We need to keep Mitch. This should be our rotation: Mitch/Sims Obi Cam/Grimes RJ/Fournier McBride/Quickley Fournier can be a three point threat off the bench. That’s his role. Trade Randle for some draft picks or expiring contracts or both. Let the young guns take control of their destiny. Noel can be the third center off the bench. I’ll bet you that with this lineup we would win 44-47 games.
Luxury tax trade away
Lakers future First round picks are not available
Knicks need an all time great
Will Knicks aggressively pursue Westbrook in June?
Rockets did
They need an all-time great, and you suggest that’s Westbrook?! You’re delusional if you think he’s anything other than an all-time box score filler who is never going to be a winner.
If the Knicks can move a couple of long term deals for one year of Westbrook, sure. To think that he’ll make the Knicks better next year, ah, no.
No
What I think the Knicks should do.
Terry Rozier, Gordan Hayward, Mason Plumblee and this years second round pick (45) for Julius Randle, Evan Fouriner, Kemba Walker and Nerlens Noel.
Hornets then line up Ball Fouriner Bridges Randle Noel and off the bench Kemba Bouknight Oubre McDaniels/Washington Harrell. Plus you have the number 15 pick in the draft I believe. Your getting rid of Hayward’s big deal and rid of Plumblee. It doesn’t mean your going to win the title next season but it’s a progression forward. Randle is a really good power forward. Noel isn’t Rudy Gobert but he’s going to be better defensively than Plumblee. Kemba returning home is a cool story and together him and Fouriner give you what Rozier does. Think it brings you a step or two closer to the Raptors, Celtics and Cavs around that 7th seed area.
For the Knicks, your going to win a title but again I think it’s a step in the right direction. No more Randle, upgrade from Kemba, and get in a replacement centre with Robinson likely gone plus a draft pick aswell. In Terry Rozier you get your franchise point guard. Gordan Hayward is a really nice vet for this team and would be a good fit alongside Barrett unlike Randle. Plumblee I think would do well under Thibs and helps fill a hole at centre. You likely then draft Jalen Duren and Plumblee is a good bet to have sharing the centre minutes with him.
Knicks line up Rozier Barrett Hayward Toppin Plumblee and off the bench DRose IQ/Grimes/Burks Reddish Sims/Gibson Duren (draft). Probably upgrade your bench PF either by trade/draft or FA but I think it’s a step forward.
From NY’s POV I’d consider that just to get off the last two years of JR’s contract, although I might take umbrage with the terms “franchise PG” and “Terry Rozier” being placed next to each other.
I’m ready to dump Randle and Fournier for a half eaten bag of Lays though, so I might not be an entirely objective party here.
For Charlotte, if they think they can get away with Randle as a small ball 5 then it makes some sense, maybe?
It’s a long time to paying Randle though, and it’s probably placing the ceiling too low on a team that, with LaMelo still young, probably has higher hopes.
I think NY fans are really undervaluing JR. Yes he isn’t playing aswell as last season but he’s still pretty darn good. Leads the team in points, assists and rebounds putting up 20-10-5. The only other plays in the league putting up 20-10-5 are Jokic, Giannas and Harden. He was all nba second team for a reason and is an all star, his just over 20mil salary I think is actually pretty cheap.
He’s not top 25 or anything but he’s actually really good it’s just the fact he’s in NY with the Knicks is why he has his public perception of not being good or being expensive.
As for the rest of what your saying. Terry could serve as the franchise point guard for now. He puts up 20-4-4, shoots well from three and plays good defence most the time. Not someone you build around but for now he definitely serves a purpose well.
Randle is putting up good numbers but is not resulting in wins and his attitude and non-team player way and not rooting for the youth is what makes us want to trade him. He left the bench early at the end of the game when Obi had 18/11/6. He definitely wasn’t rooting for him. I get it though, it’s his pf position that’s on the line but at least act like you care.
23.7M
25.6M
27.5M
29.4M (player option)
Those are the next (4) seasons of Randle’s contract. Leaving the Lakers aside, I’m not sure if any team is going to be desperate enough to take that contract on without sending a similarly odious contract back in return.
Reigning MIP of the yr. And all star … 27 yrs old.
On a bad yr. 35.5 mins
10.0 reb, 5.1 ast, 20.2pts
Please tell me another PF who does this. I’m not even a Randle fan. But I know he can help a team. NY is too big for him.
Why are you always talking about the Knicks. Like you know something about them. A true genius.
Speaking of geniuses, there he is —Knickerbocker “I love the Fournier signing! I love the Randle extension!” Al. The sad thing is I know more about the Knicks than you do the middle school boys team you coach.
Randle’s still a nice player—we’re all aware. He’s just now extremely overpaid by the extension you loved so much.
You tell me another PF who’s going to make 30M when he’s 31 and is currently shooting 30% from 3 and 41% from the floor first.
In the meantime I’ll let you know the only counting stat (since you like them so much) Randle is top 10 in this year. Turnovers.
“Coach” is probably a generous term here lol
Problem is, those are empty stats Al. It’s as the old adage goes, someone has to average close to 20PPG or 10RPG, even on the worst teams. Case in point, Melo’s 24.2 PPG on the 2014-15 Knicks team that went 17-65. Numbers don’t matter as much as results do. Randle, better attitude and hustle last year, Knicks are a playoff team. Randle, gets big contract, less hustle, bad attitude, Knicks not a playoff team. See the point?
Randle is certainly doing everything he can (on and off the court) to make himself undesirable.
Still, I doubt he’d be considered a bad contract by anyone. If it is, it would be the oddest bad contract in NBA history. He’s too young, too healthy and too close to his best season. Plus, his contract doesn’t even fully reflect his breakout season, because the extension was limited to 120% of his prior contract.
That said, he’s an ill fitting piece (by the nature of his game), and thus I don’t think they’ll be a lot of potential suitors (trade partners). Conversely, since he does fit with us, I don’t see this FO being motivated to sell low on him. They move at a deliberate (could say glacial) pace even when they’re motivated. Thus, I expect Randle back.
Agree w/ everything except it being a bad contract. Ultimately, I think if Randle’s regression regresses and he lands somewhere in between last season and this season then it’s probably a reasonably fair contract.
But this summer teams won’t be able to verify that, so I think it’ll be gamble to give up assets for a guy who could be a guy who puts up a 16 PER with a salary almost twice that in perpetuity.
But to your point I doubt the FO looks to seriously move him this summer.
Seems cheap enough to me for a guy like JR!
Worst guys getting more $ than that, right?
I like Fournier. Imo Thibs has not used him well. He’s made him into a 3PT shooter only. That’s not his game. Duncan in Miami. Is only a 3PT shooter. Fournier is a shooter, scorer. He can do much more than just spot and shoot. A real PG would also help him.
I’m a big McBride fan. I’ve been wanting to see him play. Maybe NOW that they see it’s over. He will play real mins. Playing the young guys is overdue.
Problem is, those are empty stats Al. It’s as the old adage goes, someone has to average close to 20PPG or 10RPG, even on the worst teams. Case in point, Melo’s 24.2 PPG on the 2014-15 Knicks team that went 17-65. Numbers don’t matter as much as results do. Randle, better attitude and hustle last year, Knicks are a playoff team. Randle, gets big contract, less hustle, bad attitude, Knicks not a playoff team. See the point?
Big McBride fan?! Al, did you watch him at WV? Are you watching more Westchester games than anyone else on the planet. What do you actually know about McBride other than his first name is Miles?
It’s the same as giving your favourite baseball team crap for dealing the Low-A ball prospect for a decent player because you LOVE his game. Here’s what I know about McBride. He’s shooting 29% from the floor, and has played a grand total of 315 minutes this year. He also plays for a coach who plays to win even when his team has no shot of making the playoffs. Case in point, Gibson played 22 minutes last night, McBride played 9.
No, man. The alliteration of his first and last name make up for his putrid advanced stats. /s
How is 23mil “extremely overpaid” for a PF that gives you 20-10-5.
Just note the only players in the league giving you 20-10-5 are Harden, Jokic, Giannas and Randle.
Among PF’s only (via ESPN Stats)
Randle ranks 3rd in position, 3rd in rebounds, 3rd in assists, 18th in steals, 14th in blocks, 13th in efficiency and 20th in 3P%.
Yet he’s the 10th highest paid in his position.
Seems pretty fair to me. I’d say Randle is a boarder line top 5 PF at worst top 10 and he’s getting paid as the 10th best for his position.
Y’all Knicks fans just love to hate. I think most teams in the league would love to trade for Randle knowing the Knicks are probably trying to get rid of him and they don’t value him.
I’ve done this a million times but I’ll say it again: look beyond the round number counting stats.
Look at PER, which skews towards PFs and Cs. Randle is 73rd in the league this year. He’s right behind Harrison Barnes—not a guy you’d pay 23 and 25 and 27 and 29m to (or maybe you would?)
He’s 78th in BPM, right in front of Jared Vanderbilt and Wiggins. So I guess Wiggins contract is good now too? Hey, he was an All Star starter, right?
Finally True Shooting—which should ALWAYS skew towards big men. Randle is 180th in the league, right behind Kevin Porter Jr.
Looking at almost any stat that removes the fact Thibs runs guys into the ground so they ipso facto get counting stats, it’s very clear Randle has played *far below* his contract value this year.
Knickerbocker Al. He knows all, tells you everything you need to know about the Knicks. I feel like we are going to re sign Robinson and be in the same mess we are in with randle. Overpaying for a guy, Robinson will sign and then get hurt. Need. PG rose always hurt and old. Would you trade ObI for Charles Smith? How about randle for Anthony mason and Derrick Harper.