NBA Rumors: Ex-Celtics Wing, Free Agent Might Join EuroLeague
The offseason free agency market hasn't been friendly to former Boston Celtics guard Evan Fournier, which has left the 12-year veteran considering saying goodbye to the NBA in search of a contract offer elsewhere.
Fournier has begun to "seriously" weigh offers from teams in the EuroLeague, according to Michalis Stefanou of EuroHoops. The 31-year-old spent a split campaign with the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons in 2023-24, averaging 6.9 points with 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 32 games. That, however, wasn't enough to convince Detroit -- which finished dead last in the Eastern Conference at 14-68 -- to pick up Fournier's team option for 2024-25, prompting him to contemplate a Plan B.
Ever since Fournier was traded from the Orlando Magic to Boston in 2020-21, the versatile sharpshooting wing hasn't been able to acclimate himself effectively with either the Knicks or Pistons. Fournier expressed frustrations with New York head coach Tom Thibodeau throughout last offseason before sticking around for three appearances (no starts) to begin last season. At the peak of Fournier's prime in Orlando, he averaged 16.2 points on 45.2% shooting from the field with three assists over the course of a seven-year run with the Magic. But now, it seems as though Fournier's hit rock bottom.
Two years ago, Fournier acknowledged -- via X -- that if he'd have to settle for playing in the EuroLeague, he'd prefer to join Olympiacos B.C., although no reports (yet) have suggested the club is interested in signing Fournier. Most recently, Fournier represented France in the 2024 Paris Olympics, contributing with a 40-foot dagger to secure a semifinal appearance in an 82-73 victory over Canada.
There's still time, albeit with two months left before Opening Night, for Fournier to land an NBA contract in free agency, but the clock is still rapidly ticking.