The San Antonio Spurs are interested in trading for New York Knicks forward Evan Fournier, according to NBA insider Ian Begley of SNY.
Fournier will make $18.9 million next season. He signed a four-year, $73 million contract with New York in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics.
“The Spurs are among those teams who have had interest in acquiring Fournier via trade,” Begley wrote. “Unless they have changed course recently, the Knicks have been against attaching any additional draft compensation in a Fournier trade.
“At the start of the offseason, the Spurs had enough cap space available to absorb Fournier’s contract ($18.9 million for 2023-24 and a team option next season). They no longer have the requisite space to absorb the deal. So San Antonio would have to send back salary to satisfy trade rules in a Fournier acquisition.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Evan Fournier, New York Knicks & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Fournier only appeared in 27 games last season. He was removed from the rotation by head coach Tom Thibodeau. After the Knicks lost to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games, Fournier told NBA reporters he expected to get traded this summer.
“You know I’m not gonna be back,” Fournier 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 averaged 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 33.7% from the field, 30.7% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free-throw line. It will be fascinating to see where the 30-year-old is playing next season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Evan Fournier, New York Knicks & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Fournier has career averages of 14.0 points, 2.7 boards and 2.5 assists with the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Celtics and Knicks. He made a career-high 241 3-pointers in 2021-22.
The Knicks won 47 games last season. They have a bright future with Jalen Brunson leading the way. His supporting cast needs some work, though, as RJ Barrett and Julius Randle are very inconsistent. Maybe the Knicks can trade Fournier in a package that brings them back some depth, especially since Derrick Rose left for the Memphis Grizzlies and Obi Toppin was traded to the Indiana Pacers.
Fournier and Spurs No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama share a home country (France) and an agent (Bouna Ndiaye).
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