When Evan Fournier first noticed studies Saturday of the Knicks’ commerce with the Raptors — with out the entire particulars totally revealed — he naturally puzzled if he and his expiring contract is likely to be included within the deal.
Fournier, who’s making $18 million this season, was not packaged with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley within the commerce that imported OG Anunoby, Valuable Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the Knicks.
As an alternative, the little-used veteran appeared in simply his second recreation of the season with the Knicks left shorthanded in Saturday night time’s loss in Indiana.
“The factor is the best way I discovered [about the trade], I believe all it stated was it was a commerce bundle surrounding RJ. So in fact you see that, and also you’re like, ‘Oh.’ So that you test your telephone and stuff,” Fournier stated after the sport. “I sleep effectively at night time. I don’t test my telephone to see if there’s a commerce or something. I simply deal with the second as a result of that’s the enterprise.”
The 31-year-old Fournier performed for the primary time since Nov. 17 — scoring 10 factors on three of 10 taking pictures in 17 minutes — as he awaits inclusion in a commerce as wage filler.
“Pleased to play, for positive, however the recreation is quick. … It’s by no means simple to play a recreation after being on the bench for some time,” Fournier stated. “I attempted to provide my greatest effort.”
Jericho Sims was introduced as obtainable after lacking the earlier six video games with a sprained ankle, however he didn’t play, even with the Knicks shorthanded from the commerce.
“He hasn’t had contact and that was extra emergency, if we would have liked him,” Thibodeau stated.
Sims isn’t on the harm report for Monday’s recreation towards Minnesota, and neither is Quentin Grimes, who sat out Saturday’s recreation with a non-COVID sickness. Flynn has been dominated out with a sprained proper ankle.
Thibodeau cleared the bench close to the top of Saturday’s recreation, together with two-way rookie Jacob Toppin getting into with 1:05 to play. His older brother, former Knicks ahead Obi Toppin, already was out of the sport, however he reentered with 28.2 seconds left so he may share an NBA court docket along with his brother for the primary time of their careers.