Evan Fournier signed a four-year, $73 million deal with the Knicks in the summer of 2021, and was expected to be one of the final pieces of the puzzle for a team that had just made the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.
Instead, he was a much-maligned starter on a 37-45 team in year one, and in year two, he was out of the rotation, averaged just 6.1 points in 27 games, and didn’t make a single appearance in the Knicks’ run to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
"My season has been over for a very long time; this officially is the end, but my season was over a long time ago, and it took me a good month to understand that,” Fournier said after the Knicks’ season ended with a loss to Miami Friday night. “At first, I was like, just be patient in seeing how the team developed. So I was just trying to focus on the work, focus on not wasting my time – get my legs straight and work on my skills, basically not waste myself. So that was my whole mentality. I know the season is officially over now, but that's just the opportunity of the summer for me."
And now, after that run ended and summer begins, Fournier expects these to be his last moments as a Knick, and doesn’t believe there will be a year three in New York.
"Obviously, there are gonna be changes and I'm gonna get traded,” Fournier said. "You know I'm not gonna be back. There's no way they're gonna keep me. I would be very surprised if they do. We'll see.”
Fournier last played April 9 against Indiana, and had to watch as the Knicks went nearly a dozen games deep into the playoffs without getting off the bench – which was hard for a player who had three straight strong playoff appearances from 2019-21 before becoming a Knick.
"In the playoffs, it's even harder because of the intensity and you wanna help and you see the crowd," Fournier said. "But, you know, I knew it wasn't gonna happen. So try to stay positive with the guys, try to help, talk to a few of the players that don't have the experience."
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Fournier turns 31 in October and expects to do it on his fifth team (and fourth in less than three calendar years), but he’s just going to take things as they come – because even with his fourth year a club option, the Knicks would still have to find someone willing to take on his nearly $19 million salary for 2023-24.
“At first, it's frustrating because you love the game so much – you're home, you're upset, etc. – and I’ve got two kids at home,” he said. “I don't wanna live like this, but it's obviously not in my hands."
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