NBA – Evan Fournier no longer plays in New York, how can he revive his career?

He is however in good health. No physical glitches. But his coach, Tom Thibodeau, completely removed him from the rotation in New York. Whatever the opponent, whatever the result, Fournier remains glued to the bench from the first to the last second. Already 9 matches in a row without coming into play.I’m not happy but what can I do? I stay professional, I try to be ready and I stay patient“, confided the interested party to Basket USA on … November 19. Two weeks later, he is still in the closet.

No more minutes for 9 matches, Evan Fournier in the closet

It’s true that he can’t do much about it. The cards are not in his hands. Because it’s clearly not a question of level of play. If Jericho Sims, Svi Mykhailiuk, Miles McBride and Ryan Arcidiacono are strong enough to play for the Knicks, then obviously the Saint-Maurice native is too. It would therefore be more a question of profile. The manager doesn’t really know how to use his player – who is getting $18m this season – or how to mask his defensive weaknesses. So he ignores her.

Amazing management. Before recruiting the tricolor international, Thibodeau said ” love » the game of the former Magic and Celtics scorer. The Knicks offered him 73 million over four years in 2021. In the process, they pushed him to no longer play on his strengths, those which allowed him to sign this contract, but to evolve in a different role. Fewer balls, less creation, more moving play and shots after reception. “I still managed to adapt well I think. We were at 3 wins, 4 losses and I was shooting at 40% at three-pointers. (…) After all, it happened very quickly: in the seventh game, I came out of five and there, in the thirteenth game, I was out of the rotation.“

He does not even really know why he is confined to the status of thirteenth man in Manhattan. His defensive limits allow for a first hypothesis – and again, it’s not as if his teammates have a DPOY trophy in each leg. But it is above all his declining offensive performance (34% on shots, 33% from behind the arc), combined with the shortcomings in question, which may have pushed Thibodeau to take him out of the five. But from there to not making him play anymore…

Fournier still comes out of a decent first season with the Knicks. The record was disappointing collectively – not qualified for the playoffs after finishing fourth in the East in 2021 – but the French brought 14 points and 39% behind the arc. Without necessarily shining, of course, but still beating a franchise record, that of the number of outside baskets registered on an exercise. A few months later, it is therefore put aside. The arrival of Jalen Brunson, with whom he can hardly play without it being problematic for the team on both sides of the floor, may have been right about his New York adventure.

He could very well take on an offensive joker role off the bench, but Thibodeau prefers Cam Reddish and Derrick Rose. There are probably minutes to find for Evan Fournier. Even though he’s not a star in this league, he’s too talented to watch every game sitting in the front row. The Knicks coach had already imposed the same treatment on Kemba Walker last year, suddenly removing him from the rotation. Returning a few weeks later, the former All-Star was downright slamming a 44-point game.

What franchise and what role in the NBA?

So there is still hope. It may not be completely over with the Knicks. But on the other hand, you have to ask yourself if it is really worth it. If this team can’t find the best way to use it, then maybe it’s best to look elsewhere. Which leads to another question: what is the ideal team for Fournier in the NBA?

With his profile as a competitor and a productive scorer but not to the point of carrying a whole franchise, he would be more interesting within a really ambitious formation. As a complement player. It’s not a flaw. 500 of the best basketball players in the world evolve across the Atlantic. Not everyone can get a major role. He was one of the first two offensive options of a playoff team, of course, but in Orlando, for two outings in the first round and in an Eastern Conference still less relieved than its western neighbor.

It’s hard to imagine him alongside a very prolific point guard. Or at least not in the five. For the same reasons that it is difficult to associate him with Jalen Brunson. There are two teams that come to mind, however: the Clippers and the Raptors. Los Angeles, where compatriots Nicolas Batum and Moussa Diabaté are already playing, is the deepest formation in the entire league. Which means that the Californians can quite easily part with two rotation players (preferably a young one, to convince the Knicks to make the deal) to recover Fournier. For example Luke Kennard, Amir Coffey and a second round pick could do the trick. New York would get their hands on a real three-point shooting specialist in “spot-up.” The Clippers would have one more scorer at their disposal, especially for the evenings without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

The Raptors’ offer is a little harder to imagine. Chris Boucher will undoubtedly interest the leaders of the big apple but not sure that their Canadian counterparts wish to part with him. In any case, a team like Toronto, where the danger can come from anywhere, would stick pretty well. Especially if the Ontario franchise finally decides not to pay Gary Trent Jr (unlikely though), whose contract is about to expire, and to replace him with Evan Fournier during the season. These are options to watch out for. A transfer from the Blues executive seems almost inevitable. And that is, somewhere, what can help him relaunch his career.