Knicks · Evan Fournier interview on Knicks Fan TV (page 1)

Very nice. Thanks for the share.

Thank you for posting this. I did not realize that was his first free agency. How long has there been talk of us getting snubbed by free agents? Even Amare had an asterisk as a broken down player looking for his last big payday( not saying that it wasn't necessarily so) But this here is legit, a high quality starter, two-way player with a complete game. The ship 🚢 is sailing in new fresh waters for the first time in over 20 years.!!

ramtour420 wrote:Thank you for posting this. I did not realize that was his first free agency. How long has there been talk of us getting snubbed by free agents? Even Amare had an asterisk as a broken down player looking for his last big payday( not saying that it wasn't necessarily so) But this here is legit, a high quality starter, two-way player with a complete game. The ship 🚢 is sailing in new fresh waters for the first time in over 20 years.!!

Kid is in his prime. Not a savior, but just solid with a contact that can be moved. Kemba wanted here. Again, not a savior but an opportunity for both player and team. Randle wanted back. MAYBE took a bit of a discount to stay and be part of the culture. Let’s be real, knicks turned into a great move for Randle! He put in the work and Thibs found his new Jimmy Butler “Dog”! It clicked.
We have the culture shift momentum we craved. We are are accumulating assets to make a trade in the future if an opportunity presents itself. Seems Leon and Co. are not throwing stupid money around. We did not over pay for anyone, including Haywood last year.
That DRose came back was notable. Forget the noise that he bailed on us and the pressure of pending free agency at the time. He came back to a knew front office an a coach he clicks with. Thibs coached the youngest MVP in the history of the league. They clicked.

Players like Steph Curry are returning to their teams with super max money. CP3 got another “Crazy” contact defying age. so be it, if he came here and crumbled it would set us back bad. He and his contact are not our concern.

RJ upside is the big wild card for us.

I view Fournier as our B. Bogdonavic (Hawks) but Fournier is a year younger and I think on a better contract given (team option).

Fournier may actually create a bit more vs. Bogdan but I think both qualify as quality 3rd or 4th scorers and outstanding shooters (mediocre defenders).

LivingLegend wrote:I view Fournier as our B. Bogdonavic (Hawks) but Fournier is a year younger and I think on a better contract given (team option).

Fournier may actually create a bit more vs. Bogdan but I think both qualify as quality 3rd or 4th scorers and outstanding shooters (mediocre defenders).

Fournier is more consistent and more rounded offensive game than Bullock, who is a nice player and did well for use. He was very respectable defense and good outside shot. Fournier a better creator. and playmaker.
Kind of guy with his contract now secure that can wait for the game to come to him after Randle, RJ, Walker/Rose…..he’ll get lots of open looks and if need be penetrate from the elbow as defense will have to respect him. Him and Burke’s have similar offense games. Alec when in hero mode is a better creator. Eric when he has to be hero is a bit lessor (heat check aside, LOL)

He's a solid all-around player...an NBA and international ball veteran who has a good BB IQ. He's at a good age and stage of his career for a playoff contending team, and he'll be a good influence on our younger players, too.

If we were at the rebuilding phase we seemed to be in a few years ago, I'd perhaps wonder about picking Fournier up, but in my mind, like most of us here, the Knicks are competing for another top 4 playoff slot, and he should help us be a little better than we were last year.

The fact that he already has chemistry with kemba is a bonus.

knicks1248 wrote:The fact that he already has chemistry with kemba is a bonus.

One an never under estimate those 16 regular season games and 5 playoff games Evan played for the Celtics.
I can be real dick and look up how many of those Kemba sat out.
But I’ll just be partial.

Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

TheGame wrote:Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

Other teams have improved also which is my basis for less than 4th.
I’m not “down” on kicks but we were also relatively injury free last year except for mitch.
There is a lot of enthusiasm about Kemba’s knee. I hope it holds up to that level!

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

Other teams have improved also which is my basis for less than 4th.
I’m not “down” on kicks but we were also relatively injury free last year except for mitch.
There is a lot of enthusiasm about Kemba’s knee. I hope it holds up to that level!

I hear yeah and admittedly the top four teams in the East are tough (Nets, Bucks, philly, and Miami), but if this team stays healthy as you say, we can finish 4th or 5th. The Nets are going to rest players. Miami is solid but I think we can hang with them. Philly may be a mess if they don’t work out the Ben Simmons issue, and the Bucks probably are going to try and cruise through the regular season. The Knicks will be trying to fight for respect every game and, with our depth, we can overcome injuries better than those other teams. Time will tell, but I see another surprisingly successful season coming up.

TheGame wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

Other teams have improved also which is my basis for less than 4th.
I’m not “down” on kicks but we were also relatively injury free last year except for mitch.
There is a lot of enthusiasm about Kemba’s knee. I hope it holds up to that level!

I hear yeah and admittedly the top four teams in the East are tough (Nets, Bucks, philly, and Miami), but if this team stays healthy as you say, we can finish 4th or 5th. The Nets are going to rest players. Miami is solid but I think we can hang with them. Philly may be a mess if they don’t work out the Ben Simmons issue, and the Bucks probably are going to try and cruise through the regular season. The Knicks will be trying to fight for respect every game and, with our depth, we can overcome injuries better than those other teams. Time will tell, but I see another surprisingly successful season coming up.

I agree. Objectively Miami should be prime. I’d have to put ATL ahead of us. They are young and have the swag to build on. That puts us 6th.
Last year we were that “it” team. The one nobody saw coming.
Chicago???? Not saying they are or not, but on paper I can see them coming.
One of Indy or charlotte could be good. 8-thru-4 is a toss up really. I can’t just do the “we finished 4, we better, we do it again”. That might be. But its not that easy.

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

Other teams have improved also which is my basis for less than 4th.
I’m not “down” on kicks but we were also relatively injury free last year except for mitch.
There is a lot of enthusiasm about Kemba’s knee. I hope it holds up to that level!

I hear yeah and admittedly the top four teams in the East are tough (Nets, Bucks, philly, and Miami), but if this team stays healthy as you say, we can finish 4th or 5th. The Nets are going to rest players. Miami is solid but I think we can hang with them. Philly may be a mess if they don’t work out the Ben Simmons issue, and the Bucks probably are going to try and cruise through the regular season. The Knicks will be trying to fight for respect every game and, with our depth, we can overcome injuries better than those other teams. Time will tell, but I see another surprisingly successful season coming up.

I agree. Objectively Miami should be prime. I’d have to put ATL ahead of us. They are young and have the swag to build on. That puts us 6th.
Last year we were that “it” team. The one nobody saw coming.
Chicago???? Not saying they are or not, but on paper I can see them coming.
One of Indy or charlotte could be good. 8-thru-4 is a toss up really. I can’t just do the “we finished 4, we better, we do it again”. That might be. But its not that easy.

Think the east got better. Nets, Bucks, Miami may be too 3 now with the Hawks and Philly up there as well. Depending what Philly does with Simmons. Feel the Celtics will move up next year. Think it will be between us Chicago, Charlotte and the Pacers for the rest of the playoff spots. Think some are also sleeping in the Raptors but that will depend on if they trade Siakam.

HofstraBBall wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

Other teams have improved also which is my basis for less than 4th.
I’m not “down” on kicks but we were also relatively injury free last year except for mitch.
There is a lot of enthusiasm about Kemba’s knee. I hope it holds up to that level!

I hear yeah and admittedly the top four teams in the East are tough (Nets, Bucks, philly, and Miami), but if this team stays healthy as you say, we can finish 4th or 5th. The Nets are going to rest players. Miami is solid but I think we can hang with them. Philly may be a mess if they don’t work out the Ben Simmons issue, and the Bucks probably are going to try and cruise through the regular season. The Knicks will be trying to fight for respect every game and, with our depth, we can overcome injuries better than those other teams. Time will tell, but I see another surprisingly successful season coming up.

I agree. Objectively Miami should be prime. I’d have to put ATL ahead of us. They are young and have the swag to build on. That puts us 6th.
Last year we were that “it” team. The one nobody saw coming.
Chicago???? Not saying they are or not, but on paper I can see them coming.
One of Indy or charlotte could be good. 8-thru-4 is a toss up really. I can’t just do the “we finished 4, we better, we do it again”. That might be. But its not that easy.

Think the east got better. Nets, Bucks, Miami may be too 3 now with the Hawks and Philly up there as well. Depending what Philly does with Simmons. Feel the Celtics will move up next year. Think it will be between us Chicago, Charlotte and the Pacers for the rest of the playoff spots. Think some are also sleeping in the Raptors but that will depend on if they trade Siakam.

Raptors had the convergence of all things gone bad last season. Ujiri resigned with a rumored 15mm a year deal and participates in profits. How that translates to his rebuild will be fun to watch. Siakim trade perhaps once he demonstrates he is at least close to playing up to his contract either by health, mental health or what ever his beef was

Unless Simmons is a child I see the same team returning and should be top 4. Its logical they are in win now mode and a trade either makes them better or lateral on paper.

I think we finish worse than last year for all the reasons discussed. My main reason is simple. Last year, we were hunting and had low expectations to win. No pressure.

This year, we are expected to be better, and now we are being hunted. This team is too fragile mentally to handle expectations. We had our best season in YEARS. We are still new to this thing called winning.

When no one expects anything from us, we win.

When everybody expects us to win, we lose.. I think 🤔 last year was an aberration. This year, with expectations shooting through the roof, will be the real test. This year, we will know if this franchise has completely turned around. If so, I think a championship within the next 10 years is possible. Or will we go back to losing again. Might have to get nba league pass this year, instead of live streaming. 🤔

Nalod wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

Other teams have improved also which is my basis for less than 4th.
I’m not “down” on kicks but we were also relatively injury free last year except for mitch.
There is a lot of enthusiasm about Kemba’s knee. I hope it holds up to that level!

I hear yeah and admittedly the top four teams in the East are tough (Nets, Bucks, philly, and Miami), but if this team stays healthy as you say, we can finish 4th or 5th. The Nets are going to rest players. Miami is solid but I think we can hang with them. Philly may be a mess if they don’t work out the Ben Simmons issue, and the Bucks probably are going to try and cruise through the regular season. The Knicks will be trying to fight for respect every game and, with our depth, we can overcome injuries better than those other teams. Time will tell, but I see another surprisingly successful season coming up.

I agree. Objectively Miami should be prime. I’d have to put ATL ahead of us. They are young and have the swag to build on. That puts us 6th.
Last year we were that “it” team. The one nobody saw coming.
Chicago???? Not saying they are or not, but on paper I can see them coming.
One of Indy or charlotte could be good. 8-thru-4 is a toss up really. I can’t just do the “we finished 4, we better, we do it again”. That might be. But its not that easy.

Think the east got better. Nets, Bucks, Miami may be too 3 now with the Hawks and Philly up there as well. Depending what Philly does with Simmons. Feel the Celtics will move up next year. Think it will be between us Chicago, Charlotte and the Pacers for the rest of the playoff spots. Think some are also sleeping in the Raptors but that will depend on if they trade Siakam.

Raptors had the convergence of all things gone bad last season. Ujiri resigned with a rumored 15mm a year deal and participates in profits. How that translates to his rebuild will be fun to watch. Siakim trade perhaps once he demonstrates he is at least close to playing up to his contract either by health, mental health or what ever his beef was

Unless Simmons is a child I see the same team returning and should be top 4. Its logical they are in win now mode and a trade either makes them better or lateral on paper.

He is. May be on roster day 1 but a trade will most likely happen.

martin wrote:

Nalod wrote:

HofstraBBall wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:

Nalod wrote:

TheGame wrote:Fournier is a baller and this team placing fourth in the east was not a fluke. I think this team is better than it was last year, and I think we will be fighting for that fourth and fifth spot again this year. If RJ takes another step in his growth and if our defense stays solid and Walker can play in at least 60 games, I see no reason we will not the fourth or fifth seed. Evan is going to give us another closer in the 4th. This team is really stacked with talent.

Other teams have improved also which is my basis for less than 4th.
I’m not “down” on kicks but we were also relatively injury free last year except for mitch.
There is a lot of enthusiasm about Kemba’s knee. I hope it holds up to that level!

I hear yeah and admittedly the top four teams in the East are tough (Nets, Bucks, philly, and Miami), but if this team stays healthy as you say, we can finish 4th or 5th. The Nets are going to rest players. Miami is solid but I think we can hang with them. Philly may be a mess if they don’t work out the Ben Simmons issue, and the Bucks probably are going to try and cruise through the regular season. The Knicks will be trying to fight for respect every game and, with our depth, we can overcome injuries better than those other teams. Time will tell, but I see another surprisingly successful season coming up.

I agree. Objectively Miami should be prime. I’d have to put ATL ahead of us. They are young and have the swag to build on. That puts us 6th.
Last year we were that “it” team. The one nobody saw coming.
Chicago???? Not saying they are or not, but on paper I can see them coming.
One of Indy or charlotte could be good. 8-thru-4 is a toss up really. I can’t just do the “we finished 4, we better, we do it again”. That might be. But its not that easy.

Think the east got better. Nets, Bucks, Miami may be too 3 now with the Hawks and Philly up there as well. Depending what Philly does with Simmons. Feel the Celtics will move up next year. Think it will be between us Chicago, Charlotte and the Pacers for the rest of the playoff spots. Think some are also sleeping in the Raptors but that will depend on if they trade Siakam.

Raptors had the convergence of all things gone bad last season. Ujiri resigned with a rumored 15mm a year deal and participates in profits. How that translates to his rebuild will be fun to watch. Siakim trade perhaps once he demonstrates he is at least close to playing up to his contract either by health, mental health or what ever his beef was

Unless Simmons is a child I see the same team returning and should be top 4. Its logical they are in win now mode and a trade either makes them better or lateral on paper.

He is. May be on roster day 1 but a trade will most likely happen.

For a team to take on his salary he has to demonstrate a bit more maturity. Present to be humble, do the work, say you got some mental health break thru, something to make a team want you. He is not a bad kid. He is immature and hit a ceiling. Can he break thru it?

Now this is a shooter. I can barely hit two in a row at this game.. Evan is a beast.

TheGame wrote:Now this is a shooter. I can barely hit two in a row at this game.. Evan is a beast.

Actually, looking at the arms, this may not be Evan. Evan has tattoos on his arms. This guy has none. This video may be fake.

blkexec wrote:I think we finish worse than last year for all the reasons discussed. My main reason is simple. Last year, we were hunting and had low expectations to win. No pressure.

This year, we are expected to be better, and now we are being hunted. This team is too fragile mentally to handle expectations. We had our best season in YEARS. We are still new to this thing called winning.

When no one expects anything from us, we win.

When everybody expects us to win, we lose.. I think 🤔 last year was an aberration. This year, with expectations shooting through the roof, will be the real test. This year, we will know if this franchise has completely turned around. If so, I think a championship within the next 10 years is possible. Or will we go back to losing again. Might have to get nba league pass this year, instead of live streaming. 🤔

I totally agree with you. This year is when we will need to use the "mental" part of the game much more so than last year where it was all skill and hustle. Playing under expectations adds another layer but that's what winners must have, or develop