Veteran wing Evan Fournier was pulled from the Knicks‘ rotation last season and hoped to be traded this offseason. However, he remains on New York’s roster entering 2023/24 and doesn’t appear to have a clear path to playing time.
While it would be easy for Fournier to hang his head, he says he’s still trying to work his way back into a regular role with the Knicks, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
“I might be dreaming of stuff, but to me, I can help the team,” Fournier said. “Like I’m a good player. I can f—king play. I bring stuff that this team doesn’t have, too. So, I have hope to play, to be honest. I have hope to play. Maybe I’m crazy, I don’t know.
“Maybe Thibs (head coach Tom Thibodeau) has already made up his mind and stuff, but my goal is to put him in a position where he has to think about playing me.”
Fournier, who is on a pseudo-expiring $18.9MM contract, says he didn’t contemplate holding out ahead of training camp and strongly disagreed with the tactic Jae Crowder chose last season, Bondy writes. The 30-year-old also says some of his comments over the summer about his dissatisfaction with his role were lost in translation (Fournier is French).
Thibodeau was mostly dismissive of Fournier’s offseason gripes on Monday, but he complimented him on Saturday, as Bondy relays.
“He’s a true pro,” Thibodeau said. “So he came in just doing all the things he should do.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Former Knicks guard Derrick Rose signed with the Grizzlies this offseason and seems to prefer Taylor Jenkins‘ training camps over Thibodeau’s, Bondy writes for The New York Post. “It’s ran different,” Rose said. “I’m just going to say that. It’s ran different. Here, it’s more smoother. It’s more fluent. And guys are really getting their work in. And that’s not saying the guys in New York didn’t get their work in.” However, free agent addition Donte DiVincenzo is pleased with Thibodeau’s camp. “He’s very detail-oriented, which I appreciate,” DiVincenzo said, per Bondy. “Going back to my college days, that’s why I’m in the NBA, playing for coaches who are detail-oriented. So, I think Thibs can bring the best out of me.”
- On Saturday, Thibodeau singled out reserve center Jericho Sims as a training camp standout, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday. “Jericho has really had a great camp,” Thibodeau said. “He’s the one guy, obviously coming off the surgery, he had a great summer the way he worked. He’s really done a good job for us.” The Knicks fully guaranteed Sims’ $1.93MM contract for ’23/24 this summer.
- With the help of a scout and a “longtime talent evaluator,” Bondy created reasonable goals for the Knicks’ projected rotation players entering ’23/24. What should Quentin Grimes be working on entering his third season? According to Bondy, slowing down and exercising more patience would be a prudent choice.
“.. my goal is to put him in a position where he has to think about playing me ..” Wow, great idea by Fournier. Too bad he couldn’t have come with something like that last year.
I’d prefer the NYK rotation players create some goals for Bondy entering the season. Learning something about the sport he purports to cover would seem prudent.
It isn’t Fourniers’ fault the NY press asks him the same questions every week. He has to come up with something to say.
Ask stupid questions, get stupid answers.
He’d be a rotation player on numerous teams. I imagine they’ll find a spot for him around the trade deadline when there isn’t much of his albatross contract left to pay.
The media keeps coming back because he keeps giving them a narrative with drama and intrigue. Whenever that’s the case, the media will keep coming back.
The rest I agree with.
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
Gary 10:7
Go KNICKS!
Fournier does not have to worry about playing any role other than warming up and sitting on the bench with the Knicks. Thibs is done with him! He would have had a shot, but he keeps airing it out in the media. Thibs don’t work like that.
It’s a business. The Knicks are wisely holding the contract as a salary filler if the right addition becomes available. They have draft capital and Fournier’s contract. They just have to wait for the right player.
If no deal to their liking becomes available by the trade deadline. They will cut him.
Wow play your best and stay at your best. In case you get a call to play. Or you get traded. Now there’s a a good Idea ????
Fournier dug his own grave here. We are waaaay passed him playing again. It’s a contract yr for him. So as a professional. He should be in his best shape ever. Imo he can help a team.
He took on Thibs and he lost……. Bye
I like Sims a lot. He has more offense than Mitch. Our three bigs are a solid rotation. If only Mitch would finally reach his ceiling. He should be a top 3 DPY.
For this Knicks team (no trade) to contend for East. Mitch, Grimes, RJ have to take a major step up.