Veteran Fournier expected to start at SG over Grimes
The ever-growing Quentin Grimes bandwagon hit a potential roadblock on Tuesday: Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t sound ready for a youth movement at shooting guard just yet.
Despite Grimes’ strong Las Vegas Summer League performance and the Knicks’ hesitancy to include him in trade packages for the ultimately unsuccessful effort to acquire Donovan Mitchell, it seems likely that the second-year guard will come off the bench this season, barring a huge training camp.
Thibodeau listed the defensively challenged and slowfooted Evan Fournier as the frontrunner to start alongside newcomer Jalen Brunson in the backcourt and sidestepped questions of whether there is an open competition at the position.
“We need shooting,” Thibodeau said Tuesday. “The one thing I know: with Jalen and RJ [Barrett] and Julius [Randle], we have to put shooting around them. Mitch [Robinson] will give pressure around the rim. That’s what will force the defense to collapse. Evan’s proven — I thought the second half of last year, he played really well.”
Fournier was signed to a four-year, $78 million deal by team president Leon Rose, but his first season as a Knick fell well short of expectations. He posted a career-worst 41.7 percentage from the field in 80 starts, although he did shoot a robust 38.9 percent from 3-point range on 7.7 attempts and averaged 14.1 points per game. Fournier didn’t start well on the offensive end — he shot just 34.2 percent from deep in November and December — and he let that negatively impact him on defense.
He won’t have to make the same adjustments this year, because he is familiar with Thibodeau’s system and what is expected of him. Most of his teammates are the same, and the addition of Brunson could create even more opportunities for him from the perimeter.
“Last year, it took me a moment to really understand, ‘OK, what’s my role gonna be with this team? How can I help the guys and how can I be myself ?’ ” Fournier said. “I started the year very poorly defensively because I let my offense really impact my defense. I thought the end of the season was much better [on] both sides of the court. And I think it’s really gonna help me just knowing the guys.”
Thibodeau talked up the 6-foot-4 Grimes as a two-way contributor and raved about his offseason. Grimes was one of the top players in Las Vegas, averaging 22.6 points, 4.0 assists and showcasing his ability to create off the dribble. The former first-round pick out of Houston showed glimpses of promise as a rookie, but was limited due to a bout with
COVID-19 and a dislocated kneecap. There was belief entering camp that Grimes, a first-round pick a year ago, could wind up the starter to give Thibodeau, who demands strong defense, more of a defensive-minded guard next to the undersized Brunson, who is 6-1.
It doesn’t seem that will be the case, however, unless Thibodeau was being coy. Asked if there will be a battle for the spot over the next few weeks, the coach said every position is up for grabs and it really depends on how different players mesh.
“I’ve never been one to get stuck on who starts. To me it’s always who’s finishing, who gives you the best chance to win at the end of the game and you need everybody,” Thibodeau said. “So is it better to start this guy and bring this guy off the bench? How does that look? How does that make the second unit? Two years ago, the strength of our club really was our second unit.”
Obviously, that could all change. Thibodeau didn’t anoint Fournier as much as indicate he is his preference at the moment. But on the first day of training camp, the one starting spot that was thought to be up for grabs didn’t seem to be there for the taking, based on the coach’s comments.