The NBA offseason has slowed down significantly in recent weeks, with minimal player movement and no games taking place. There was a surge of trades and free agency activity, followed by an exciting Olympic basketball tournament, but now it seems like we’re in a bit of a lull until training camp starts.
Evan Fournier exits the NBA, signs with Euroleague team
On Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported some significant news: NBA veteran Evan Fournier of France is leaving the NBA to sign a deal to play overseas. Fournier was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 20th overall pick in 2012, where he played for two seasons, including a promising second year as a reliable bench contributor. In 2014, he was traded to the Orlando Magic on draft night in a deal that sent Arron Afflalo to Denver.
After 12 seasons, Evan Fournier is exiting the NBA and signing a two-year, $4 million-plus deal with Euroleague club Olympiacos, per sources. Fournier averaged nearly 10 points in France's Silver Medal run at the Paris Olympics. pic.twitter.com/ErFKwEJl0W
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2024
Fournier had a 12-year NBA career, most recently splitting his time between the Knicks and the Pistons. Internationally, he has been a standout for the French National Team, including playing a key role in winning a silver medal this summer in Paris.
Now 31, Fournier has signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Olympiacos, a Greek team competing in the EuroLeague. Although he can still offer some shooting and offensive creation, he has slowed down and became a deep bench player in the NBA.
Despite this, Fournier had a solid career, serving as a valuable wing player for many years. During his prime with the Magic, he averaged over 15 points per game for seven consecutive seasons before stints with the Celtics and Knicks.
While this move likely signals the end of Fournier’s NBA career, a return isn’t entirely out of the question. Players have revitalized their careers overseas before, but it appears that Fournier’s speed has declined in recent years, making an NBA comeback challenging.
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