Knicks' Evan Fournier Expects to Be Traded: 'No Way They're Going to Keep Me'

After spending most of this season on the New York Knicks' bench, Evan Fournier sounds like he's ready for a fresh start.

Fournier told reporters after Friday's season-ending loss to the Miami Heat he expects to be traded this offseason.

"You know I'm not gonna be back," he said. "There's no way they're gonna keep me. I would be very surprised if they do. So, we'll see. It's obviously not in my hands though."

Fournier quickly fell out of favor with head coach Tom Thibodeau this season. He was moved to a bench role after starting the Knicks' first seven games.

Following appearances in six consecutive games after his demotion, Fournier went six weeks without seeing any action from Nov. 15 through Dec. 27. He was only used in 14 of New York's last 69 games in the regular season and didn't make an appearance in the playoffs.

"How hard is it? It's not easy. I'll tell you that," Fournier told reporters about being benched after a Nov. 15 game against the Utah Jazz.

Fournier finished this season with his lowest scoring average (6.1 points per game) since he was a rookie in 2012-13. The 30-year-old also set career lows in field-goal percentage (33.7) and three-point percentage (30.7).

Finding a trade partner could be difficult for the Knicks because of Fournier's contract. He's owed $18.9 million next season in the final guaranteed year of his four-year, $73 million deal signed in August 2021.

There is the potential this turns into a good buy-low situation for another team. Fournier has a 37.9 three-point percentage in his career and averaged 15.8 points per game in the previous eight seasons before 2022-23.

The Knicks have a good foundation in place and are capable of vaulting into the top tier of Eastern Conference contenders after reaching the second round of the playoffs. They are still a couple of key pieces away from getting to that level.

Trading Fournier wouldn't bring back a high-caliber player for the Knicks, but being able to get his salary off the books would open things up for the front office to make additional moves.