Derrick Rose and Evan Fournier are still good players that can be solid contributors for championship and playoff contenders. By the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9, both may be with a team other than the Knicks.
The 34-year-old Rose and the 30-year-old Fournier have a combined 25 years in the NBA. Rose is a former NBA MVP and just two seasons ago was the Knicks’ best player in their postseason matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. Last season, Fournier set the Knicks’ franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a season, making 241 and shooting 38.9%. Both are now struggling to get minutes in the Knicks’ rotation, with Fournier out of the mix.
He hasn’t played since getting 20 minutes of floor time versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 13, shooting 0-5 and 0-3 on 3-point attempts. Fournier, who has alternated between shooting guard and small forward playing for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and the Knicks, began the season starting seven games and playing in 13. But he has been replaced in the first five by Cam Reddish and RJ Barrett. Reddish, Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley eat up all of the minutes he previously was afforded.
Rose’s playing time has not been consistent. He averaged 26.8 in 35 games with the Knicks in 2020-21 after being acquired from the Detroit Pistons and 24.5 last season in 26 games before an ankle injury in December caused him to miss the remainder. This season, Rose is at 14.2 appearing in 17 of the Knicks’ 18 games. He still has the quickness, strength and shooting ability to be impactful as backup point guard as well as playing off the ball.
With the Knicks this season, he has seen new acquisition Jalen Brunson and Quickley garner most of the time at the point. “I’m in the unknown, trying to stay focused, give my all every day, talking to the guys, being vocal like I said earlier on in the year,” Rose said after a Knicks practice two weeks ago.
“Trying to communicate to them what I see on the floor, but yeah, this is new, foreign, for me.”