The New York Knicks took a step back this year following an NBA playoff birth in 2021. Their record of 37-45 found them once again on the outside looking in come time for the postseason. Like most summers, they are a team to watch to shake things up.
Considering their roster is littered with young talent, it would make the most sense for the Knicks to embrace the youth. This would mean getting off bigger contracts like Evan Fournier, who they signed to a four-year, $73 million deal last offseason. At 29-years-old, he does not fit the timeline of the rest of the team.
Fournier appeared in 80 games for the Knicks this season and posted averages of 14.3 PPG and 2.1 APG while shooting close to 39% from beyond the arc. Getting paid around $18 million annually, his deal is reasonable enough for teams to be willing to make a trade.
One potential suitor for Fournier could be the Miami Heat. Given that their window to contend is open now, his skill set as a secondary guard fits nicely alongside the likes of Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler.
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After signing Duncan Robinson to a big extension, his production took a dip this season. His 10.9 PPG and 37.2 3P% are his lowest marks since his rookie season. With their contracts being almost identical, this would be an easy swap for both teams.
Trading Evan Fournier for Duncan Robinson makes a lot of sense on both sides. Miami gets an upgrade at shooting guard to help their championship hopes, and the New York Knicks get a young sharpshooter that is under contract long-term.
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It is still way too early to say what the Miami Heat will plan to do this offseason. How things unfold for them in the postseason will be a strong indicator of the direction they move in moving forward. If they do decide to cut their losses with Robinson, this is an avenue they should consider pursuing.
