The Knicks Signed Evan Fournier
Don’t Google his name.
Evan Fournier is on the Knicks.
I thought about making that the entire blog, but there’s so much to say about this incredible moment in New York Knicks history.
My family takes the same trip every year during the first week of August. Being on vacation during the first week of NBA free agency isn’t ideal. Especially when it’s at a house with dicey WiFi and 12 channels — none of them being ESPN.
I didn’t think I’d be doing much writing on this vacation. Then Ian Begley had to go and drop a “mutual interest” bomb between my Knicks and Evan Fournier. That was a game changer.
Evan Fournier is my fucking guy.
I’ve been writing, tweeting, and yelling at my brothers about how great a fit Fournier would be on the Knicks since he was a free agent in 2016.
I was disappointed we didn’t pick him up at the trade deadline this year. But in hindsight, stealing him from the Celtics makes this even better.
Another home run for Danny Ainge. He turned Gordon Hayward’s TPE into a couple of months of Fournier and Josh Richardson. Yes, I know Danny Ainge is retired but seriously fuck that guy.
So, you might be wondering why a Knicks fan would give a shit about Evan Fournier. That’s understandable. I do watch an irrational amount of Orlando Magic basketball for someone who isn’t from Orlando.
I grew up a Duke basketball fan, loved JJ Redick, he got drafted by the Magic so I always kinda followed the team, and yada, yada, yada, here we are.
Humblebrag: I’ve been on the Knicks Film School podcast because Jonathan Macri doesn’t know anyone else who’s ever watched an Orlando Magic game.
I try to stay grounded.
Anyway, shitty WiFi or not, I needed to be glued to my laptop on Monday. It was, as the first day of free agency always is, a wild day.
So, I checked out various live streams of the Knicks content community variety. Hats off to Knicks Film School, KnicksFanTV, and Pod Strickland for the work they did yesterday.
It was fascinating to watch along with other fans as the Knicks went from hoarding their cap space like a bunch of nerds to burning through money as super cool rich guys do.
Then it happened. Five years of work, all validated with one single Woj bomb.
It’s been a long five years of losing for the Knicks. During that span, others have joined the Fournier bandwagon. Kris Pursiainen and Collin Loring joined me in celebrating our victory on Monday night.
The contract is a steal, by the way. The fourth year is a team option, so the deal is basically three years for $58 million.
When you consider that the Mavs fully guaranteed Tim Hardaway Jr’s four-year, $74 million deal (haha Cuban), Fournier probably did the Knicks a favor.
I’m sure you’ve read some deeply insightful tweets about Fournier’s defense, but don’t waste any time wondering whether or not he’s a Thibs guy.
Fournier just played the best ball of his career under Thibs’ friend Steve Clifford. In two and a half seasons with Clifford, Fournier averaged 16.8 points and 3.2 assists per game on a slash line of .453/.380/.806.
But Fournier’s improvements were about more than just his counting stats. He became a smarter player and a sounder defender under Clifford. It’s no coincidence that Thibodeau was likely interested in signing him.
But Fournier was asked to do way too much on offense for the Magic. That’s a common theme with anyone coming out of that organization right now — see Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon.
Fournier isn’t a first or second option, and he probably shouldn’t be closing out games for you like he was for the Magic. But if he’s your third best offensive player, you’re looking good.
That’s what the Knicks are hoping for next season. So much of the Fournier trade working depends on how much of a step forward RJ Barrett takes.
Fournier’s three-point shooting, his ability to create shots for himself, and his ability to create for others should be a massive help to Barrett and the other young Knicks.
I’ll be going into much more depth on Fournier and his fit with the team later. But for now, Evan Fournier is a Knick, and I spoke it into existence.
