Exiled Knicks guard is still awaiting a trade

Evan Fournier has made two appearances for the New York Knicks this season. The veteran guard has been exiled from Tom Thibodeau's rotation since November 15, 2022. Since then, Fournier has been used sparingly by the Knicks, often finding himself glued to the bench. 

As such, when the Knicks made a trade for OG Anunoby on Saturday, Fournier found himself checking his phone to see whether his tenure with the Knickerbockers had come to an end. 

“Well, the thing is the way I learned it, I think it said it was a trade package surrounding RJ,” Fournier told Steve Popper of Newsday. “So of course you see that, you’re like, ‘Oh.’ You check your phone and stuff. I sleep well at night. I don’t check my phone to see if there’s a trade or anything. I just focus in on the moment because that’s the business.”

Fournier joined the Knicks in 2021 following an unsuccessful spell with the Boston Celtics. In his first season with the franchise, Fournier averaged 14.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, shooting 46.5% from two-point range and 38.9% from deep. 

Yet, in his second season with the team, his numbers fell off a cliff. Producing 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 40.4% from two-point range and 30.7% from deep. 

In fairness, Fournier's production dipped because his court time had been slashed by almost 10 minutes per game. Thibodeau likes his players to provide value on both sides of the court, leading Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes to be the preferred guards off the bench. Since then, Fournier has been waiting for the Knicks to find him a new home. 

It's been 14 months since Fournier was originally dropped by Thibodeau. In that time, he's played a total of 15 times. Usually, his appearances have been late in games or when the roster was dealing with injury issues. 

Fournier isn't a bad player. He wowed fans during the FIBA World Cup over the summer and was previously a core part of the Orlando Magic's rotation. 

However, Fournier doesn't fit how Thibodeau wants his team to play. He was originally acquired by the front office after the Knicks' lack of offense had been exposed by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2022 playoffs. 

The internal development of multiple players within the rotation quickly eased the Knicks' offensive concerns, and suddenly, Fournier's drawbacks on defense were easier to live without. 

New York has a team option on Fournier's contract for next season. They're unlikely to pick that up. As such, the veteran guard will likely become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Still, at 31, Fournier likely wants to be playing rather than wasting away on the bench. 

If the Knicks can't find a willing trade partner for him before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, Fournier could become a legitimate buy-out candidate. He's too good to waste away on the bench much longer. 

The Knicks will likely look to resolve the issue in the coming weeks, one way or another.