According to various sources, the New York Knicks have agreed to terms with free agents Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose. Rose reportedly agreed to sign a three-year, $43 million deal with the team. In addition Fournier, a former Boston Celtics guard, is set to get a four-year deal worth up to $78 million.
Back in The Big Apple 🗽
D-Rose is returning to the Knicks on a three-year, $43M deal, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/3lXZ0foC9L
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 3, 2021
Rose, a three-time All-Star, and former MVP was traded from Detroit in February. He averaged 14.9 points and 4.2 assists in 35 games (three starts) for the Knicks last season. In March, Fournier was traded to Boston from Orlando, where he had spent the previous seven seasons. Last season, he averaged 17.1 points per game in 42 games (36 starts) with the Magic and Celtics. Despite the fact that Fournier has never made an All-Star squad, the Knicks are paying him handsomely.
No game-changers for Knicks in Free Agency
In an uninspiring night for Knicks president Leon Rose, the rest of their cap space was used to bring back several influential players from their 2020-21 team. Rose’s agreement comes after NY re-signed center Nerlens Noel and swingman Alec Burks to three-year contracts. It seems the Knicks are still not an attractive choice for free agents after being thrashed 4-1 by the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. They were forced to run it back, with Fournier being regarded as their offseason “game-changer”.
I’m excited to run it back New York!! Let’s go! #knickstape pic.twitter.com/A4xocEDKRA
— Nerlens Noel (@NerlensNoel3) August 3, 2021
New York still in need of Point Guard
With the Rose signing, the Knicks ran out of cap space, despite point-guard targets Spencer Dinwiddie, Dennis Schroder, and Reggie Jackson remianing on the board. With Collin Sexton of the Cavaliers still on the market, the Knicks have a chance to acquire a point guard through trade. New York is keeping an eye on Damian Lillard to see whether he would request a trade. The Knicks are at the top of Lillard’s list, but the Trail Blazers will of course trade him for the best offer.
Written by John Galietta
Twitter:@jgalietta17
Instagram:@jgalietta17