As he listened to the question, Evan Fournier paused.
“Are you here by choice?”
After complaining at first, the veteran Knicks wing responded with wisdom.
“In the best case scenario, I wish to remain. “I’d like to play here,” he declared. “I had other options in free agency, but I chose to sign with the Knicks. I adore New York City. I desired to compete for [Tom Thibodeau]. Therefore, I would want to stay, but I would also love to play.”
Sunday night in Toronto, he was required to return to Thibodeau’s rotation. Immanuel Quickley missed his first game of the season due to pain in his left knee, and Thibodeau opted to start Evan Fournier, who scored eight points in 21 minutes of action. He began poorly, missing his first four attempts, but contributed as the game progressed in his first appearance since January 9.
When asked to evaluate his play, he replied, “Tough.” “Clearly, the initial attempt was a miss. When you don’t play in this manner, you can lose rhythm and other things. You attempt to affect the game in some way. I missed several shots in the first half. I was attempting to make the correct play by kicking the ball to open players. Nothing unusual. Could’ve been worse, could’ve been a lot better.”
As the February 9 trade deadline approaches, the next several weeks for Fournier and the struggling Knicks should be quite eventful. He is earning $18 million this season, $18.9 million next season, and has a $19 million club option for the year after that.
That is expensive for someone who does not receive regular minutes. The 30-year-old sharpshooter has only played since November 13 when regulars have been injured after setting the Knicks record for most 3-pointers made in a season and starting on opening night last year. There is no single aspect of his game that he must improve in order to receive consistent playing time, at least according to the coaching staff.
The thoughtful 6-foot-6 French winger stated, “It’s just the way things are right now.”
When Fournier receives playing time, he strives to earn more with the realization that he has little control over the situation. He recognized Sunday for what it was: a chance that will not be available in the Knicks’ next game if Quickley returns to action. It does not indicate that he enjoys observing instead of playing.
“I’m in the best physical condition of my career. I ought to be at my peak. “I am at my peak,” he stated. “You want to play without a doubt. Especially as a competitor. I have not forgotten how to play. I was able to surpass a 30-year-old franchise record while playing a different role last year. Therefore, I will find a way to adapt to every circumstance.”
If he is traded for the second time in his eleven-year career, then so be it. He no longer follows trade rumors, preferring to sleep through the deadline instead. In a perfect world, Fournier would remain a Knick and contribute to the team’s future on-court success. However, it may not be the case.
»Evan Fournier desires to be a part of the Knicks’ solution as the NBA trade deadline approaches«