A week ago, Evan Fournier said in our columns that he found that young French players are not in love with the French team as he and others were at the same age. He had noted your refusal to go to the U20, for example. Would you like to respond to him? Killian Hayes: If I refused the U20, it’s because I was 17 years old. It wasn’t my age group and I really wanted to work all summer to be ready for my first professional season. That was the main reason I declined the selection and nothing else. I’ve always loved France, I’ve always wanted to represent it, and today if I have the opportunity to claim a spot on the team, it would really be an honor to wear the blue jersey. -via Basket USA / January 8, 2024

The boisterous ESPN voice did add that the 7-footer has given a strong effort and that he wasn’t attempting to be “disrespectful.” Nevertheless, it seems like the Knicks might’ve taken the comment to heart. “Some dude named Hartenstein,” Fournier wrote on X after the Knicks’ latest win, in which Hartenstein scored a season-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists in the rout of Philadelphia. -via New York Post / January 6, 2024

“The thing is the way I learned [about the trade], I think all it said was it was a trade package surrounding RJ. So of course you see that, and you’re like, ‘Oh.’ So you check your phone and stuff,” Fournier said after the game. “I sleep well at night. I don’t check my phone to see if there’s a trade or anything. I just focus on the moment because that’s the business.” -via New York Post / January 1, 2024

With the unlikelihood of a blockbuster deal materializing until the summer, the Knicks, according to teams negotiating with New York, are focused on acquiring a ballhandler (McBride has impressed, but is viewed more as an undersized two-guard) and a big man because, among other reasons, Mitchell Robinson’s near future remains in flux. There’s also a willingness, per sources, to take on multi-year deals that could be packaged in a later blockbuster. -via New York Post / January 18, 2024

One name to watch is Quentin Grimes. The Knicks are actively fielding offers for the former first-round pick, according to rival executives who have been in contact with New York’s front office. The approach signals a change from only a year or two ago when the Knicks clutched onto Grimes in trade talks. The 23-year-old has fallen out of favor with head coach Tom Thibodeau of late. -via The Athletic / January 16, 2024

New York is looking at various avenues to upgrade its point guard depth behind Jalen Brunson, sources said, while the Knicks also continue to evaluate center options because of Mitchell Robinson’s ankle surgery. Although with Murray in favor of a fresh start, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, it seems questionable that adding the former All-Star to pair with another ball-dominant lead guard like Brunson would have much different results than Murray’s partnership with Young. Of note: When Atlanta and New York discussed the 2022 trade that brought Cam Reddish to the Knicks, the Hawks valued Quentin Grimes during those talks, sources said. -via Yahoo! Sports / January 11, 2024