With fewer than two weeks until the NBA trade deadline in 2024, the New York Knicks are establishing themselves as a potential Eastern Conference contender. Their record is 29-17, and they are only six games behind the Boston Celtics in first place.
Tom Thibodeau’s club has won six consecutive games, including a rout of the defending champion Denver Nuggets and an amazing victory over the Miami Heat.
However, standout forward Julius Randle is battling with a dislocated shoulder. It’s unclear how much time he will miss or whether the injury will have long-term consequences. The Knicks may also consider filling the void left by Mitchell Robinson’s absence.
Robinson is unlikely to play again this season following ankle surgery in December. His successor in the lineup, Isaiah Hartenstein, has done an amazing job. However, Hartenstein has his own physical issues, having missed multiple games this month due to a sore Achilles.
Precious Achiuwa, acquired from the Toronto Raptors in the O.G. Anunoby trade, is gaining Thibodeau’s trust as he adjusts to his new role. Still, the Knicks should be on the lookout for a big man to add depth.
And, in any trade, what will New York look to give up? One player, in particular, appears to be a lock for shipment before February 8.
Fournier no longer has role in New York.
Evan Fournier has been on the trading block for months, having lost favor with Thibodeau and his spot in the team’s rotation.
While Fournier offers value on the scoring end of the court, his defensive abilities fall short of Thibodeau’s requirements. The Knicks coach is known for keeping his rotation tight, and Fournier just does not fit into it.
Fournier has appeared in just three games this season while the Knicks hunt for a trade partner. His most recent game, on January 18, against the Washington Wizards, was an awful 0-4 shooting performance. So it’s unlikely that teams will beat down the Knicks’ door to sign a guy who hasn’t earned consistent playing time in over a year.
Despite poor performances with the Boston Celtics and now the New York Knicks, Fournier was once averaging over 20 points per game for the Orlando Magic. He also did well in the FIBA Basketball World Cup this summer.
Knicks should act with care.
However, the true worth of Fournier in a deal is his $18.8 million salary. If the Knicks want to make a significant move before the deadline, Fournier’s cap figure might be useful for matching contracts with a trade target.
If the Knicks have no use for Fournier, they should move him so he can resume playing regular NBA minutes. It makes no sense for the team or the player to have him sitting and wasting away for another several months.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, how the Knicks handle the Fournier situation will be watched by the rest of the NBA. The franchise does not want to be perceived as mistreating a seasoned player, so unless Thibodeau changes his mind and finds a spot for the Frenchman in his rotation unlikely, the Knicks must move on from Fournier as quickly as possible.
