By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Expected to remain with the Detroit Pistons for the remainder of the season and play significant minutes, Evan Fournier faced his previous team on Monday. Only a few weeks after being traded away, the New York Knicks are already in the past for the 31-year-old French swingman.
“I was hoping for a trade and it happened, so it worked out,” he pointed out ahead of the meeting between the Pistons and the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
He finished with seven points, two steals, and one assist in a losing effort. Lasting 20 minutes was more than half of his total playing time with the Knicks in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season.
“I don’t know, and I don’t really care for it if I’m being honest. You should ask Thibs that,” he pointed to Tom Thibodeau about his limited role at the franchise based in New York. Playing under Monty Williams, he is up to 11.5 points and 21.5 minutes per contest.
Landing in Detroit, he initially emerged as a potential buyout candidate. However, the Pistons seem ready to keep him on the roster. Players must be waived until Friday afternoon to be eligible to play in the 2024 Playoffs with their next team.
Potentially sticking around, but a team option worth 19 million dollars is unlikely to be picked up, thus sending him to the free-agent market this offseason.
“I’m 31, not 40. I’m in my best years,” he looked into the future.
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