The New York Knicks are trying to unload displaced rotation players Evan Fournier and Cam Reddish as trade season looms.
Fournier and Reddish were linked to the Los Angeles Lakers in multiple reports.
The Athletic reported Monday that the Knicks and Lakers had discussed trade concepts. One of those concepts was swapping Fournier for two of the Lakers’ expiring contracts, Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn, per Hoopshype.
But Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto noted that this offer was made before Cam Reddish was removed from the rotation after the Knicks’ lackluster loss to the Dallas Mavericks more than a week ago. Since then, the Knicks have strung up four convincing victories without both Reddish and Fournier.
Fournier still has $36.9 million guaranteed money until next season. His $19 million salary for the 2024-25 season is a team option, making him an essentially expiring contract next season. On the other hand, Reddish is set to become a restricted free agent after the Knicks did not offer him an extension before this season.
The Knicks have tried to attach Reddish to unload Fournier’s contract in several trade talks, per The Athletic’s Fred Katz. But it appears even Reddish’s inclusion doesn’t excite the Lakers to absorb Fournier’s remaining guaranteed money.
The Lakers reportedly want to keep their cap sheet open for next summer. But even after clearing Russell Westbrook and their other veterans on the books, the Lakers will only have around $34.3-$35.9 million in cap space, per Spotrac. That will still be short of a max salary slot, but they hope it would be enough to land them Kyrie Irving, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
The Lakers are reportedly more interested in another shooter, Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanovic, who recently inked a $39.1 million, two-year extension, than having Fournier.
Before the Pistons scooped up Bogdanovic in the offseason, the Lakers reportedly dangled Russell Westbrook’s enormous expiring salary and are willing to include a future first-round pick to Utah.
Fournier’s stock has sharply plummeted after breaking the Knicks’ single-season record for most three-pointers made.
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