Trade talks and rumors are just starting to heat up around the NBA as Thursday will be the first day teams are allowed to trade players they signed as free agents during the offseason.
It is no secret the Los Angeles Lakers need help at both forward positions, particularly with 3-point shooting, and they have targeted three players, in particular, to trade for.
One of those players is the New York Knicks Evan Fournier. In fact, one report said the Knicks had talked to the Lakers about sending them the sharpshooting small forward.
Via Lakers Daily:
“NBA insider Michael Scotto noted that the proposed deal would have sent Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn to the Knicks and was discussed before Knicks forward Cam Reddish was benched.
“‘Before Reddish’s recent benching in New York, the Knicks originally engaged the Lakers to see if they’d have interest in swapping Evan Fournier for Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn, league sources told HoopsHype,’ wrote Scotto. ‘Beverley and Nunn will both become unrestricted free agents after this season.
“‘Since then, the Knicks have reportedly looked to package Reddish with Fournier in various trade talks, per The Athletic’s Fred Katz.'”
The one possible concern is that Fournier, who is a career 38% 3-point shooter, has made just 33.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc this season. In addition, the Knicks seem disappointed in his defense, and he lost his starting job in early November.
Fournier has three years remaining on his contract (including this year) at $18-19 million per season. The third year is a team option.
