The Knicks need more outside shooting, and the franchise record holder for most three-pointers in a season is on the roster, but that doesn’t mean Evan Fournier will get a chance to play, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The 31-year-old guard is the only Knick who hasn’t appeared in a game this season, leaving him in a familiar position ever since he was pulled from the rotation early last season.
“I think the guys found something in the way they played last year, and they’re going to stick to that,” Fournier said. “So it’s not up to me.”
Fournier expressed a desire to be traded this summer, but New York held onto him because his $19MM expiring contract might be useful to help match salaries in a future deal. He’ll become a buyout candidate if he’s not moved by the February 8 deadline, but he told Bondy that he’s not counting the days until then because “that’s not a way to live.”
Fournier knew his best chance to prove himself was in the preseason, so he came to camp prepared for the opportunity. He saw 76 minutes and made seven three-pointers in preseason action, but he didn’t expect it to change anything once the season began.
“My mentality was definitely to show that I deserve to play. But I kind of knew the deal coming in,” Fournier said. “I kind of knew the deal that the rotation was similar to last season. So when (coach Tom Thibodeau) told me I wasn’t going to be part of the rotation, I wasn’t surprised.”
There’s more from New York:
- RJ Barrett wasn’t with the team Friday in Milwaukee, missing his second straight game with soreness in his left knee, Bondy adds in another story for the Post. Barrett, who’s considered day to day, hurt the knee on opening night and has been managing the pain ever since. Bondy notes that Barrett logged a lot of minutes for Team Canada during the World Cup and then played regularly during the preseason, unlike some of the Knicks’ other stars.
- Julius Randle has been criticized for his early-season shooting slump, but he’s not finding other ways to help the team, observes Steve Popper of Newsday. Randle is connecting at 27.1% from the field and 22.5% from three-point range through six games, and Popper points out that he didn’t get to the foul line during Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland and he hasn’t blocked a shot yet this season.
- Magic forward Joe Ingles expects former Utah teammate Donovan Mitchell to eventually wind up with the Knicks, per Christian Arnold of The New York Post. “I think he’ll play for New York one day, whether that’s sooner or later,” Ingles said in an interview with 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. “I think it would be great for New York and I think it would be great for him. Whether or not that actually happens we’ll wait and see.”
“So its not up to me’
Nope, ofc it is/was
DeM DeR >>>> to Knicks ….
Knicks have no motion offense. Randle is not hitting his shots. So it affects the rest of his gm. Jalen playing hero-ball trying to pick up slack. 4 ast a gm is not getting it for a PG.
God no, not DeRo. Knicks don’t need another ball stopper who can’t shoot from distance or play defense.
Randle for DeRozan straight up is the only salary match that would work, not likely to happen. I think you should just put the campaign on hold until he is a free agent next year.
Try actually looking at salaries. And get a clue. Knicks don’t have cap space to sign anyone significant.
There is no reason to be rude. The salaries of Randle & DeRozan actually are almost identical. Bulls have only one open roster spot so they cannot trade DeMar for more than 2 players or they would have to waive someone. However, a sign and trade could involve multiple players from the Knicks roster as both teams have people on one year contracts.
If you want ball movent DeRozan isn’t your man he is the epitome of hero ball.
Stop with the lame campaign for Demar Derozen we don’t need another Ball Stopper who is closer to the retirement home and another non shooter on this team coached by this enept stubborn Thibs who inserted another non shooting player in the starting lineup meaning Josh Hart to go with our non shooting center who is a liability on offense and and who can’t make a shot in a kids Nurf hoop but yet has the audacity to complain about lobs. The guy that I would want is Zach Levine who is a lights out shooter and a dynamic scorer who would form a dynamic back court with Brunson being we are last place in offensive production which should be no shock since Thibs only offensive sets is dump the ball to Randle or Brunson and no ball movement. This losing keeps up and Randle and Thibs will be packing bags and will be on the next plane out of Gotham City and I wouldn’t lose any sleep with these two lame enept stubborn dudes that as long as they are connected to the knicks we will be struck in mediocrity.
Another genius…. Why haven’t you nons learned by now. The season is 82 gms.
Knicks after Hart trade were 17-8. And battled Heat for the East. In Thibs third yr. Don’t you clowns read. I know you don’t watch ……. try another team please, another sport would be even better.
Last year was a mirage this team is going nowhere … Thibs out asap
link to x.com
They need to use Fournier’s contract in a move or they just waste that asset. If he is not going to play figure out a way to get something, if not an active player a pick from a salary dumb 3 team trade.
Get knowledge if you want to make an argument. It’s called closing out games. Something Knicks don’t do well …
“DeMar DeRozan has scored the fifth-most fourth-quarter points this season (2022-23), as he has had 322 points in the final quarter this season. DeRozan’s fourth quarter points per game, however, rank eighth in the NBA as he is averaging 7.3 points per game while shooting 47.8% from the field, 35.3% from 3-point range and 91.4% from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.”
Ummm…2022-23 was last season. I like DeRozan but the Knicks do not need him. There are better fits. The Knicks for once just have to be patient.
Yeah 82 gms plus play in ….
But let’s go with the 5 gm season for you.
Knicks don’t need another shooter, they just need to hit their shots. Grimes needs to let it go, otherwise back to the bench he goes. Randle is back in the ‘odd-even’ year where he goes into a shell. And I’m struggling to see where the Donte D signing is going to help – he’s cutting into minutes and I feel it may impact Hart and Barrett. I like him, but we already had one of him in Hart.
And there is no way in hell that Fournier is coming off that bench. He’s glued with red locktite on that seat.
Pretty obvious Knicks need to do something drastic to get better can’t really just continue being mid and having Randle stink it up.
Kinda poor work from the GM to trade out Obi Toppin and not replace him and now Randles struggling you don’t really have much in terms of a back up.
I’m unsure how you make the deal work but I think Jerami Grant to NY makes a lot of sense and shipping Randle out. Grant is that ideal 3 and D forward that complements having other good players. Seems like a real Thibs player. He’s not as demanding as Randle nor does he have the ego. He won’t fill up the stat sheets the same but he gives you 20 a night and plays really good defence.
That aside I also am not sure RJ Barrett is the right fit either. Originally I thought RJ suited the SG position and he would be a bigger 2, solid defensively and be like a third option 20 ish points per game kinda guy. Like a Tobias Harris at SG with better defence, a poor man’s Kris Middleton maybe idk. However since Grimes has stepped up he’s kinda starting to own that spot and doesn’t look like he’s giving it up either.
What about Grimes, Quickley, McBride, Sims and Evan F with three 1sts for Ingram? That’s perfect for the Knicks
That’s too much. I doubt NO would trade him. With the unpredictable Zion situation.
What about Evan F and Donte D with a pick for Herro?
I like Ingram but my friend that is way to much for a good player who is not a superstar. I lime his size and skill set T 6foot 8 but that type of package is for a bonefilde All Star or superstar.
Cut down on the 1sts then. They need a top guy. DeRozan is older than everyone else in the starting lineup. Ingram is the same age. Trade all those guys them sign some FAs. Thibs fav Gibson is out there. They need a elite SG or SF. Barrett can switch to either or after the trade. Hart can be the sixth man.
A bad start is no time time to panic. But I’d say the offense system needs a tweak. Randle is not handling the double teams right. Which is old news. And the bad shooting is just exposing it more. Also not having a backup PF. Is showing more than they expected I’m sure.
Unfortunately it’s NYC. So there is no time to find yourself or your game. This is the year a trade is suppose to happen. “The Trade”. So things will intensify.
In Thibs we Trust ……
I wouldn’t trust this enept stubborn coach babysitting my grandma. He is a lousy coach and I hope we go on a 10 game losing streak so he can be fired and sent packing. This coach has spoiled this bum Randle and his iso heavy sets have us dead last in tbe NBA in offensive production. With Thibs we will be forever in mediocrity and that facts. He inserted a another non shooting player in the starting lineup as along with our Center who couldn’t make a shot in a Nurf ball net Thibs is trash just like Randles game.
DeM DeR >>>> to Knicks …..
Marvin Bagley III >>>> to Knicks ….
Thibs is a problem hopefully this is his last year teams clog the paint on defense Evan could help during the time that RJ is out. They recently signed a guy named Dylan Windler a nobody on our roster who actually got in a game.
Why would he not at least utilize this asset? He would hate to be proven wrong fire Thibs for this unprofessional situation.
I couldn’t agree with u more Thibs is a enept stubborn coach with us being last I’m Offensive production in the NBA and starting another non shooter in Josh Hart he can’t even give Fournier 15 minutes and he is the best three point shooter on the team. As long as Thibs is coaching this team we will be stuck in mediocrity.
Is it really worth posting for inept conversation.
6 gms in <<<<<<
The Knick geniuses. Are like Marty killing Kerr. To only go away after he wins another ring ….
Al just like we all have A holes we all have our own opinion. Thibs had been a enept stubborn coach his whole career and I can’t wait to him and his faded hair are gone. You kill me you talk like you played in the NBA or coached but the only game you probably played is in your local YMCA and you probly coached your grandsons Pee Wee league at your local Chuckie Cheese. What’s enept is a stiff who is constantly campaigning for a washed up vet in Demar Derozan who is as old as your lame coach Thibs who constantly gets out coached in big games.