Evan Fournier found himself riding the bench for the Knicks last season after starting 80 games in his debut season in New York, and he clearly is ready to move on.
The French player told L’Equipe that will be traded, and it wouldn’t work if he remained with the Knicks, where he signed a four-year deal after the 2020-21 season.
“I’m going to be traded, it’s not possible otherwise,” Fournier said. “Or I’d be stuck, and so would they. They have several players with big contracts coming in. Unless they want to pay a crazy luxury tax… If I stayed, it would be a disaster basketball-wise for my career.
“I can manage a year without playing. Two…that would be terrible”
Fournier is set to make just under $19 million next season, and his trade value doesn’t seem to be that high after being benched after just seven games last season, then barely played after being removed from Tom Thibodeau’s rotation weeks later.
“If you want to trade me with a good return, why didn’t you use me?” Fournier said. “I was coming out of a season where I was the fourth-best 3-point shooter in the league. Why not take advantage of it?”
As for his relationship with Tom Thibodeau, Fournier simply said, “I have none.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
Listen live to WFAN:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker (just say ‘Play W-F-A-N’)