Evan’s almighty deal
Knicks agree to $78M pact with French sharpshooter
The Knicks turned to a sharpshooting Frenchman with their biggest move in free agency, agreeing to sign Evan Fournier to a four-year deal worth as much as $78 million.
Fournier, 28, slots in as the Knicks’ starting two-guard and provides them with a playmaker who can drain 3s at a high volume. Still, Fournier, who spent most of his career with the Magic, isn’t the type of star to push the Knicks into title contention.
The fourth year on Fournier’s contract is a team option, according to ESPN.
After the Knicks emerged unexpectedly as the fourth seed last season, they entered free agency with the most cap space in the NBA, with roughly $54 million. Then the Knicks used most of it to re-sign their own players: Derrick Rose for three years, $43 million; Alec Burks for three years, $30 million; and Nerlens Noel for three years, $32 million.
Fournier is potentially the jewel of the group and has a connection to Knicks GM Scott Perry, who was part of the Magic executive staff that traded for Fournier in 2014.
Fournier’s career has been up-and-down but probably peaked in 2019-20 when he averaged 18.5 points on 47% shooting. He was traded to Boston at the deadline last season, but managed just 16 games after contracting COVID-19. The Knicks passed last season on trading for Fournier, whose cost to the Celtics was only two second-round picks.
Fournier has never been out of the first round in his career and shot just 37% in 19 playoff games.
Internationally with France, however, Fournier has been more of a star and recently buried the U.S. in the Olympics with 28 points. His team faces Italy early this morning in the quarterfinals at Tokyo.
Despite the agreement, the Knicks’ free agency will be classified as underwhelming. They essentially replaced Reggie Bullock with Fournier at a salary five times as high while providing raises to their other free agents. (Bullock, a key member of their run to the fourth seed, agreed to sign with the Mavericks Monday.)
They still carry the draft assets to pull off a trade, and have been linked heavily to Cleveland point guard Collin Sexton. If they fit Rose’s deal into his Early Bird Rights, the Knicks would still have enough cap space to make a run at a mid-level player in the dwindling market, whether it be for another point guard like Spencer Dinwiddie or Reggie Jackson; or a wing like Kelly Oubre. Dame Lillard lingers as the best of all possibilities, but the Blazers have shown no inclination to trade their All-NBA talent before the season starts..
The Knicks were in the market for a point guard in free agency, but the top names — Chris Paul (Suns), Kyle Lowry (Heat) and Michael Conley (Jazz) — all signed elsewhere.
If they don’t make a big trade in the next few months, the Knicks’ starting lineup projects as such: PG Rose; SG Fournier; SF RJ Barrett; PF Julius Randle; C Noel or Mitchell Robinson.
Less than a year ago, Leon Rose punted 2020 free agency by handing out only oneyear deals, believing that 2021 would bear fruit with potential superstars on the market. But Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Donovan Mitchell all signed extensions.
Now the Knicks look like they’re running it back — plus Fournier — while roughly doubling the salaries of Noel, Rose and Burks. Although the Knicks surged to a 41-31 record last season, they were exposed in the playoffs against Atlanta. The belief around the league was they needed roster improvement to take the next step. Whether Fournier provides the big boost — or whether the Knicks can negotiate a big trade — remains to be seen.