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

However, he is in good health. No physical problems. But his coach, Tom Thibodeau, has 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 games in a row without entering the game.I’m not happy but what can I do? I remain professional, I try to be prompt and I remain patient“, confided the interested party to Basket USA on … November 19th. Two weeks later, he’s still in the closet.

No more minutes for 9 games, Fournier in the closet

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

Extraordinary 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 to his strengths, those that allowed him to sign this contract, but to evolve into a different role. Fewer balls, less creation, more movement and receiving shots. “I still managed to adjust well, I think. We were down 3 wins, 4 losses and I was shooting 40% from three-point range. (…) After all, it happened very quickly: in the seventh game I went out of five and there, in the thirteenth game, I was out of rotation.“

He doesn’t even really know why he’s confined to the status of thirteenth man in Manhattan. His defensive limitations allow for a first guess and, again, it’s not like his teammates have a DPOY trophy in each leg. But it’s mostly his declining offensive performance (34% on shooting, 33% from behind the arc), coupled with the shortcomings in question, that may have prompted Thibodeau to take him out of the five. But from there to not letting it play anymore…

However, Fournier is coming off a decent first season with the Knicks. The record was disappointing collectively — he didn’t qualify for the playoffs after finishing fourth in the East in 2021 — but the French led 14 points and 39 percent behind the arc. Without necessarily shining, of course, but still beating a franchise record, that of the number of outside baskets recorded in an exercise. A few months later, he is therefore set aside. The arrival of Jalen Brunson, with whom he can hardly play without causing problems for the team on both sides of the field, could have proved his New York adventure right.

He could very well take on an offensive wildcard role off the bench, but Thibodeau favors Cam Reddish and Derrick Rose. There are probably minutes to be found for Evan Fournier. Even if he’s not a star in this league, he’s too talented to watch every game sitting ringside. 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 decisively batting a 44-point game.

Which franchise and which role in the NBA?

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

With his profile as a competitor and goalscorer productive but not to the point of carrying an entire franchise, he would be most interesting within a truly ambitious lineup. As a complementary player. It’s not a flaw. 500 of the world’s best basketball players evolve across the Atlantic. Not everyone can get a big role. It was a top-two offensive option on a playoff team, of course, but in Orlando, for two first-round exits and an even less relieved Eastern Conference than its western neighbor.

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

The Raptors’ offer is a little harder to imagine. Chris Boucher will no doubt interest the big apple’s leaders but he’s not sure their Canadian counterparts want to part ways with him. In any case, a team like Toronto, where danger can come from anywhere, would hold up quite well. Especially if the Ontario franchise finally decides not to pay Gary Trent Jr (which is unlikely), whose contract is expiring, 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 this is, somewhere, what can help revive his career.