MIAMI — After the Knicks’ second-round exit from the playoffs, Evan Fournier is convinced of two things:
He could’ve helped them in their series loss to the Heat.
And they’re not going to bring him back.
“There’s no way they’re going to keep me. I would be very surprised if they did,” Fournier said after the season-ending, Game 6 loss Friday night at Kaseya Center. “So we’ll see. It’s obviously not in my hands.”
Considering the way the 30-year-old Fourier was used this season — or more to the point, not used — he’s almost certainly right.
It would be surprising to see him back in the Garden next year, except as a visiting player after being traded away by the Knicks.
Fournier was a mainstay in 2021-22, starting 80 games and averaging 14.1 points on 38.9 percent shooting from behind the arc in 29.5 minutes.
But he was largely marginalized this season, before being benched altogether down the stretch. Fournier logged just 27 games — just seven of them starts — and averaged 6.1 points in 17 minutes, hitting a career-low 30.7 percent from deep.
Eventually, coach Tom Thibodeau dropped the French wing from the rotation.
Fournier has not played a second since April 9 against Indiana, when he shot 0-for-4 in a dozen minutes.
He never got off the bench in the playoffs, though the Knicks were in desperate need of outside shooting.
“My season has been over for a very long time, actually. This officially is the end, but my season was over a long time ago,” Fournier said. “It took me a good month to understand that. At first I was, like, just be patient in seeing how the team developed. Obviously, there are gonna be changes and I’m gonna get traded.”
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
- Vaccaro: Knicks’ failure to help Brunson is why their season’s over
- Knicks battle but fall in season-ending Game 6 loss to Heat
- Knicks couldn’t survive two minutes without Brunson
- Brunson’s heroic night spoiled by late turnover
Fournier said he focused on staying in shape and keeping himself mentally ready while he dealt with the frustration of not playing.
“You know, when it’s the playoffs it’s even harder because … you want to help and you see the crowd. But I knew it wasn’t going to happen. So I was just trying to stay positive with the guys, try to help, talk to the younger players that don’t have the experience.”
The Knicks shot 29.9 percent from 3-point range in their series loss to the Heat, and just 28.6 percent in Game 6.
Asked if he felt he could have helped those postseason woes, Fournier was confident he could’ve helped in the regular season as well.
“Did I feel like I could help?” an incredulous Fournier asked rhetorically. “I mean, I felt like I could help all season. So yeah, for sure.”
But Fournier isn’t likely to get that chance.
He inked a hefty four-year, $73 million contract before last season that has now made him a salary-cap albatross.
He has two years left on the deal, but 2024-25 is a club option, essentially making his a one-year expiring contract.
He’ll make nearly $18.9 million next season, but if the Knicks plan on trading for a significant player this summer, Fournier’s deal might need to be included for salary-matching purposes.
His return to New York seemed less and less likely with every DNP.
“I mean, wouldn’t you guys be surprised? Yeah. So there we go,” said Fournier. “[I’ve got] 11 years in, big contract, they’re obviously trying to develop the young guys. So I didn’t play this year, so why would you bring me back?”