NBA news: Evan Fournier’s career with the New York Knicks has taken a drastic turn this past season. From being one of the most important players on the roster, the 30-year-old saw himself kicked out of the rotation during the second half of the recently-concluded campaign. Unsurprisingly, Fournier isn’t happy about this development at all, and he’s now come out with an eye-opening tirade against Coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks.
NBA News: Evan Fournier Drops Scathing Rant Vs. Tom Thibodeau, Knicks
Evan Fournier did not hold back in a recent interview as he lashed out on his current situation with the Knicks. Clearly, the Frenchman is not one bit pleased with how the team has treated him:
“You want to spit on everyone. You have hatred,” Fournier said, via Basket News. “Derrick Rose and I looked at each other and said to each other: ‘What the hell are we doing here?’ During the five-on-five practice, we were on the side like some prospects. Uncool times.”
Those are some pretty strong words from the veteran, and he was far from done. When asked to talk about his relationship with Thibodeau, Fournier got brutally honest in his response:
“I have nothing to say because I have none,” Fournier said. “When he took me out of the five, he just told me he was going to try something else. Then at the first match of a road trip, he announced to me that I was leaving the rotation, and ciao.”
Fournier also said that he expects to be traded this summer. The 6-foot-7 guard/forward revealed that he would be “very surprised” if he stays in New York beyond the offseason:
“I would be shot. I’m going to be traded, it’s not possible otherwise,” Fournier. “Or I’d be stuck, and so would they. They have several players with big contracts coming in. Unless they want to pay a crazy luxury tax… If I stayed, it would be a disaster basketball-wise for my career. I can manage a year without playing. Two… that would be terrible.”
NBA News: Could Evan Fournier End Up With Bucks?
Fournier was one of the most effective 3-point specialists in the NBA last season before Coach Thibs decided to put him inside the dog house. He drained 3.0 triples per game in 2021-22 on a highly-efficient 38.9-percent clip. As such, the Milwaukee Bucks could sure use more firepower in the wing — particularly from beyond the arc.
However, given that Fournier is set to pocket $18.9 million this coming season (and another $19 million team option for 2024-25), the Bucks simply don’t have enough cap room available to add him. It would be different if the Knicks decide to buy his contract out, though. If that happens, then it’s possible that Milwaukee joins the race to sign the former 20th overall pick off as a free agent.
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