Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is disappointed that fellow Frenchman Evan Fournier has an uncertain future with the Knicks and an undefined role, he told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Fournier anticipated during the offseason that he would be traded.
Gobert calls Fournier “the best shooter on the Knicks.”
“I think he can contribute and help a lot of teams,” Gobert added. “I think everybody knows it. But it’s kind of weird when you end up on the bench and you don’t really know why. Sometimes you can be stuck in a situation — I know he’s going to have an opportunity again, and everybody will understand that he can help and win. And do it at a high level. And do it every night.”
We have more Eastern Conference news:
- Jeff Van Gundy, who was hired by the Celtics as a senior consultant, has a longtime admirer in president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. “Jeff has been an unofficial consultant for so many of us that grew up in coaching for a long time,” Stevens told Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. “He’s so humble and approachable, and has always gone out of his way to spend time helping others.”
- The Wizards’ Deni Avdija (back), Patrick Baldwin Jr. (knee) and Taj Gibson (groin) were all full practice participants on Sunday, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets. Anthony Gill (hamstring) and Landry Shamet (toe) were the only players who didn’t fully participate.
- Magic coach Jamahl Mosley felt lottery picks Anthony Black and Jett Howard showed improvement in the team’s second preseason contest against Clevleand, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. “That second game, they were settled down,” Mosley said. “Our coaches did a tremendous job of watching film with them to help them see what they’re able to do and they settled in that second game.”
- Hornets forward Gordon Hayward (right foot discomfort) missed the team’s preseason contest against Oklahoma City on Sunday, the team’s PR department tweets.
Fournier is kind of an enigma, he will help bad teams win games that they would rather lose and hamper playoff bound teams even though he puts up numbers. Classic good numbers on a bad team kind of guy. Sucks foir him that Thibs has decided against playing him in the rotation, but he also is getting paid very well and has been the last few years because apparently the Knicks thought he was something he isn’t.
Thibs never wanted him. This was Rose’s call. Personally I wanted him too. Unfortunately his D was not up to Thibs standard. And worse he didn’t want to play up to Thibs standards. That’s why he sits.
He’s actually playing a lot harder these two games. And looks leaner, better shape.
Seems the the ONLY sports related news I have heard about Hayward the last 4 seasons, have been about injury.
Rudy Gobert should focus on his own team. Let the New York Knicks handle Knicks business.
More than enough problems that need to be solved in Minnesota.
I think Gobert can talk about whatever he wants.
The way Miller looks. I don’t see Hayward on this team much longer. He looks for real. Hornets can get value for Hayward. They can use a 4.
Fournier looks better in the presesaon, whatever that means. Most of it is in smaller lineups (without Randle). If he had a different mindset, then it might be able to carve out a role there. But he doesn’t. He claims (unbelievably) that he doesn’t even know why he was benched.
Bottom line is if Gobert is right (he can help any team), then its good for him and the Knicks, as, in that instance, some team will trade for him. As an expiring deal, he doesn’t have to convince teams he’s worth his contract, only that he’s worth more guys they currently have on expiring deals. It’s a low bar.
I love the Knicks but Thibs is a liability for their bench …