Tag: evan fournier

Evan Fournier predicts a future beyond Knicks

Via the NY Post:

After the Knicks’ second-round exit from the playoffs, Evan Fournier is convinced of two things:

He could’ve helped them in their series loss to Miami.

And they’re not going to bring him back.

“There’s no way they’re going to keep me. I would be very surprised if they did,” Fournier said after Friday night’s season-ending, Game 6 loss in South Florida. “So we’ll see. It’s obviously not in my hands.” …

He inked a hefty four-year, $73 million contract before last season that has now made him a salary-cap albatross.

He has two years left on the deal, but 2024-25 is a club option, essentially making him a one-year expiring contract.

Evan Fournier discusses the Knicks offense

Here’s Knicks forward Evan Fournier discussing the Knicks offense, via the New York Daily News:

“We started really well, shooting the ball well, sharing the ball, et cetera,” Fournier said Friday. “Now it’s not as good. So are we playing not as well because we are missing shots or are we missing shots because we aren’t sharing the ball? It’s always that question that you’ve got to ask yourself. In my opinion, it’s because we aren’t getting good shots and we aren’t working the defense well enough.”

In their last eight games leading up to Friday, the Knicks were tied for last in assists with the miserable Rockets and Thunder. Overall, they were 22nd in assists and 26th in assist percentage, which contrasts their high ranking (6th) in points per game…

“The main difference between the second unit and the first one is ball movement, body movement,” Fournier said. “At times it feels like we’re very stagnant. And we have to find that rhythm that we had early on, those first five games of the season. So just make sure we share the ball. Sometimes you pass the ball just to pass the ball and the rhythm is going to come back. Once we all touch the ball, you get a good rhythm, you get better shots. And then we all feel good. I think that’s the main thing going forward.”

The Knicks are on the road tonight, in Charlotte to face the Hornets (6-7).

Knicks forward Julius Randle speaks on 2OT win over Celtics

The 2021-22 NBA regular season began Tuesday, and Wednesday in Madison Square Garden the New York Knicks came away with a 138-134 double overtime win over the Boston Celtics. Knicks forward Julius Randle did big things, putting up 35 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and three steals, while new Knick Evan Fournier impressed with 32 points and six rebounds. Here’s what Randle had to say in post-game interviews:

Julius Randle on the team’s performance: “We made some mental mistakes, errors, but at the end of the day, we found a way to win the game. A lot of emotion, a lot of adrenaline, two overtimes. Everybody stepped up and made big plays and that’s the most important thing to end games and win games.”

On battling through double overtime: “Just find a way to win. Just find a way to win. Down the stretch, we can still be better, I can be better, but we made plays. Everybody made plays – defensive plays, we got stops. From the beginning I said we have to lock in on the defensive end and as long as we do that, we’re going to be a problem.”

On Obi Toppin’s progression: “He’s [Obi Toppin] confident. He’s just playing. Playing to his strengths, his athleticism, his speed, getting out. He’s just taking the game easy. Close outs, he drives, makes a play at the rim, shoots threes with confidence. All of that is just repetition and work. He comes to work every day and works extremely hard.”

On Evan Fournier’s performance: “Evan’s [Fournier] great. He came up super clutch in the overtime’s and made some big shots. We talked after the game and there’s things that we feel like we can do better and work on. He has an extremely high IQ.”

New key Knicks expected to start right away

The Knicks added a few big names this offseason, and the players will likely start right away, starting in preseason tomorrow. Via the New York Newsday:

Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, the two free agent pickups, are expected to be in the starting lineup on opening night when the Knicks host Boston on October 20. So you can expect Thibodeau to try somewhere in the four-game exhibition schedule to get a look at how those two work with Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Nerlens Noel. Noel will be the starting center at least until Robinson is ready.

While some teams hold out their starters, Thibodeau did play Randle and Barrett in all four preseason games last season, playing Barrett for more than 30 minutes per game and Randle just slightly under 30.

Last season, Thibodeau didn’t push Immanuel Quickley into the rotation at all in the first game, then used him sparingly in the second one before accelerating his playing time in the final two games and into the season. That could hint at a similar strategy for rookies Quinton Grimes and Miles McBride, although the absence of two key defensive players in Payton and Bullock could push Thibodeau to look for an answer somewhere quickly.

Celtics sign-and-trade Evan Fournier to Knicks

The Boston Celtics have traded Evan Fournier in a sign-and-trade agreement, along with a 2023 second round draft pick, and a conditional 2022 second round draft pick (Charlotte’s, protected top 55) to the New York Knicks in exchange for cash considerations.

The transaction creates a trade exception for Boston.

“We identified Evan as a key addition as we entered free agency and are ecstatic that he’s joining us,” said New York Knicks President Leon Rose, “He’s a great teammate, a fierce competitor, and a perfect complement to our returning players. He wants to be a part of what we are building here, and we are happy to have him join our family.”

Fournier, 6-7, 205-pounds, spent last season with the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics, averaging 17.1 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds over 30.0 minutes in 42 games (36 starts). He established career highs of 2.8 three-pointers per game and 41.3-percent shooting from behind the arc, which was seventh best in the NBA among players who attempted at least six threes per game. This marked the third time in his career that he shot at least 40-percent from downtown and the eighth time that he hit 35-percent of those shots or better. On March 25, Fournier was traded to Boston where he produced 13.0 points (46.3-percent 3P), 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists over 29.5 minutes in 16 games (10 starts) helping lead the Celtics to the NBA Playoffs. He averaged 19.7 points in 26 games (all starts) for Orlando, which would’ve been a career best for a single season.

Most recently the Saint-Maurice, France-native represented his country in the Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan, earning the silver medal after averaging a team best 18.7 points to go along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 28.2 minutes in six games. This was his first Olympic medal, the first for France since 2000 and just the third Olympic medal overall for the men’s basketball team.

Originally selected by Denver with the 20th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier holds career averages of 14.3 points on 37.9-percent from downtown, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists over 28.5 minutes in nine seasons with the Nuggets, Magic, and Celtics. He is one of 34 NBA players to average more than 15.0 points and shoot greater than 35-percent from beyond the arc in each of the last six seasons (2015-16 thru 2020-21).

Magic trade Evan Fournier to Celtics for Jeff Teague and draft picks

The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Jeff Teague and two future second round draft picks in a trade with the Boston Celtics for guard Evan Fournier, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

The Magic say Teague will not be reporting to the team, which presumably means they plan to waive him.

As a result, Orlando has also acquired a $17 million trade exception.

“We want to thank Evan (Fournier) for all that he has done during the last seven years, both with the organization and in the community,” Weltman added. “Evan has been a true professional and we wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”

Fournier (6’7”, 205, 10/29/92) played and started in 26 games this season with Orlando, averaging 19.7 ppg., 3.7 apg., 2.9 rpg. and 1.04 stlpg. in 29.4 minpg., while shooting .388 (73-188) from three-point range. Originally selected in the first round (20th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by Denver, he has played in 549 career NBA regular season games (407 starts) with Denver and Orlando, averaging 14.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 28.5 minpg., while shooting .376 (1,006-2,673) from three-point range and .806 (1,217-1,510) from the free throw line.

Fournier was acquired by Orlando on June 26, 2014 in a trade with Denver. He has played in 435 regular season games (399 starts) with the Magic, averaging 16.2 ppg., 3.0 apg. and 2.9 rpg. in 31.5 minpg., while shooting .376 (895-2,382) from three-point range and .812 (1,094-1,348) from the free throw line.

Evan Fournier discusses life on the road

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on the Magic, who are 8-8 at home and 6-7 on the road so far this season:

The Magic play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Amway Center after two games in Mexico City. Those games were preceded by a trip to Dallas for a game against the Mavericks.

Evan Fournier was just happy to get back in his own bed.

“How about that schedule, though?” Fournier said while shaking his head. “How about that schedule? Oh my God. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen.”

The Magic — who are coming off back-to-back wins — play San Antonio, then travel to Chicago, then are home for four consecutive games before hitting the road for six games in a row.

“It’s just like… we’re never home,” said Fournier, who is in his seventh year in the NBA. “When I got into my bed last night, it felt like I haven’t seen my bed in years. I don’t know. It feels like we’re always on the road.”

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Orlando Magic re-sign Evan Fournier

Orlando Magic re-sign Evan Fournier

The Orlando Magic have re-signed restricted free agent guard/forward Evan Fournier. The deal is reportedly a $85 million dollar contract over five years.

“As soon as the season ended, we said bringing Evan (Fournier) back was a top priority for us,” said Magic General Manager Rob Hennigan. “He made tremendous strides last season and we’re confident he will continue to improve and grow as an integral member of our core. We are extremely happy to have Evan back in an Orlando Magic uniform.”

Fournier (6’7”, 205, 10/29/92) appeared in 79 games (71 starts) with Orlando last season, averaging a career-high 15.4 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 2.7 apg. and 1.22 stlpg. in a career-high 32.5 minpg., while shooting a team-high .400 (156-390) from three-point range and a team-high .836 (199-238) from the free throw line. He was tied for 17th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage and ranked 35th in free throw percentage. Fournier led (or tied) the team in scoring 19 times, in rebounding once and in assists seven times. He scored in double figures 61 times, had 20+ points 24 times and had 30+ points twice, including a career-high 30 points on Nov. 3 @ New Orleans and Mar. 15 vs. Denver.

Originally selected by Denver in the first round (20th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier has appeared in 251 career NBA regular season games (111 starts) with Denver and Orlando, averaging 11.0 ppg., 2.5 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 24.5 minpg., while shooting .389 (352-906) from three-point range. He was acquired by the Magic along with the draft rights to Devyn Marble from Denver in exchange for Arron Afflalo on June 26, 2014.

Denver Nuggets exercise contract options on Kenneth Faried and Evan Fournier

Kenneth Faried

The Nuggets have exercised the fourth-year contract option on forward Kenneth Faried and the third-year option on guard Evan Fournier for 2014-15, general manager/executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Faried, the 22nd overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, averaged 11.5 points and 9.2 rebounds – both career-highs – in 80 games for the Nuggets last season. He recorded 31 double-doubles and ranked ninth in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.552).

In 126 career games (119 starts), Faried has averaged 11.1 points and 8.6 rebounds, while posting 43 double-doubles. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2011-12.

In addition to his production on the court, Faried received the 2012-13 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association.

Fournier, the 20th overall pick in 2012, averaged 5.3 points and 1.2 assists in 38 games as a rookie last season. He scored in double-figures in six of his final nine appearances, including a career-high 24 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 14.

Fournier, 21, turned pro as a teenager and played for Union Poitiers Basket 86 in France’s top pro league before entering the NBA Draft. He twice was named the French League’s Most Improved Player.