Evan Fournier has been very unhappy with his time with the New York Knicks — and the 2021 Boston Celtics trade deadline splash has frequently aired out his frustration with his lack of playing time.
During his time in the Big Apple, Fournier has taken shots at his employers.
“I might be dreaming of stuff, but to me, I can help the team,” Fournier said (h/t New York Post). “Like I’m a good player. I can f—ing play. I bring stuff that this team doesn’t have, too. So, I have hope to play, to be honest. I have hope to play. Maybe I’m crazy, I don’t know. Maybe Thibs has already made up his mind and stuff, but my goal is to put him in a position where he has to think about playing me.”
In another instance during the 2022-23 season, Fournier made these comments about wanting to be traded from his current team.
“If I stayed, it would be a disaster basketball-wise for my career,” Fournier said (h/t New York Post). “I can manage a year without playing. Two, that would be terrible.”
At this point, it is very obvious that Fournier wants out of New York and his return to the Boston Celtics would be perfect; with a Fournier trade being exactly what the Cs need.
Evan Fournier fills a crucial need for the Boston Celtics
Throughout his career, Fournier has been a great offensive option. Just as he did during the 2020-21 season, he can come right in and give the Boston Celtics more help with three-point shooting. During his short stint with the Celtics, the Frenchman shot an outstanding .463% from the 3-point line. That type of shooting would be more than welcome on the Boston Celtics, especially during times when Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are resting and riding on the pine.
During Fournier’s Knicks stint, he’s barely been used. On the Celtics, though, he can be a meaningful contributor off the bench. Fournier does not need to commit so much energy to the defensive end as the Knicks are requiring him to do, and he can instead be a crucial piece of the C’s second unit.
Boston needs to find a way to bring Fournier back and revitalize his career, instead of letting it waste it away on the bench for a team that does not recognize what he’s capable of.