Evan Fournier Turned Down Two-Year Deal From Wizards

[RealGM Wiretap]

Evan Fournier signed a two-year deal with Olympiacos earlier this week. Before heading back to Europe, Fournier had an opportunity to sign with the Washington Wizards.

Fournier told L'Equipe that he turned down a two-year offer from the Wizards. Fournier said he didn't want to be in a "mentoring role" for Washington's young players. The veteran wing also said he wasn't interested in being "on a losing team".

The Wizards have drafted French players in the first round in each of the last two drafts. In 2023, Washington drafted Bilal Coulibaly. In 2024, the team added Alex Sarr. The Wizards may have been looking for Fournier to help mentor his two young countrymen, as they figure things out in the NBA.

Fournier's deal with Olympiacos is reportedly for $4 million over two seasons. It's unknown if the contract includes an NBA out or not.

Via Yann Ohnona/L'Equipe

[Knick4Real]

I like Fournier, but like many aging NBA players, he's under the impression he's still "the man."

He'll probably never win a championship and is past his prime of being the "go-to" guy. I know it must be hard to accept, but he is at that stage of his career where being a "mentor" to younger players is what's realistic. It's too bad he'd rather go to Europe to prove a point than choose to stay in the NBA and take the money and run.

Good luck to him, though.

[ccvle]

I like Fournier, but like many aging NBA players, he's under the impression he's still "the man."

He'll probably never win a championship and is past his prime of being the "go-to" guy. I know it must be hard to accept, but he is at that stage of his career where being a "mentor" to younger players is what's realistic. It's too bad he'd rather go to Europe to prove a point than choose to stay in the NBA and take the money and run.

Good luck to him, though.

He hasn't played much the past two years and may not play much if he were to accept the wizards role as a mentor. He is just 32 year old. That's alot of time wasted to be sitting on the bench.

[Indomitable]

I like Fournier, but like many aging NBA players, he's under the impression he's still "the man."

He'll probably never win a championship and is past his prime of being the "go-to" guy. I know it must be hard to accept, but he is at that stage of his career where being a "mentor" to younger players is what's realistic. It's too bad he'd rather go to Europe to prove a point than choose to stay in the NBA and take the money and run.

Good luck to him, though.

He went home for about the same money.

[Pickled Prunes]

I like Fournier, but like many aging NBA players, he's under the impression he's still "the man."

He'll probably never win a championship and is past his prime of being the "go-to" guy. I know it must be hard to accept, but he is at that stage of his career where being a "mentor" to younger players is what's realistic. It's too bad he'd rather go to Europe to prove a point than choose to stay in the NBA and take the money and run.

Good luck to him, though.

He went home for about the same money.

Players like Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez (role players who can't hold a starting job in the NBA) go to Europe and play meaningful minutes on winning teams and earn a stack of all-Euro awards.

Playing is way more fun than not playing... and and at some point, enough money is enough money.

[_BALLDONTLIE]

I like Fournier, but like many aging NBA players, he's under the impression he's still "the man."

He'll probably never win a championship and is past his prime of being the "go-to" guy. I know it must be hard to accept, but he is at that stage of his career where being a "mentor" to younger players is what's realistic. It's too bad he'd rather go to Europe to prove a point than choose to stay in the NBA and take the money and run.

Good luck to him, though.

He went home for about the same money.

Would you consider it "going home" if a Texas native signed with New York?

[Cassius]

LOL

I read that as "Even [Evan] Fournier Turned Down Two-Year Deal From Wizards" as if nobody wants to play there.

[bqmuzik]

Beggers being choosers.

[niha17]

He rather not be in the nba haha they need to get rid of the wizards

[Luv those Knicks]

I don't get the criticism. The Wizards have two young French players and Fournier is French and has had a respectable career. They offered him a bench role and the Wiz aren't expected to win this year. That's fine. He thinks he can still play and the NBA seems to not agree, but that happens to a lot of players. Make fun if you want, but it's common.

I think people forget that he was extremely frustrated sitting on the bench in NY. He wanted to be bought out but NY wanted to keep him as a trade chip. He wasn't complaining to the press every day. He was a good soldier and mostly stayed quiet, but he said before the season started that sitting on the bench all year would be unbearable and he hoped for a trade.

He played meaningful minutes in the Olympics and wants to keep playing meaningful minutes this year and, that's cool. Given his last two seasons, it's consistent and I respect that.

The Wizards are in a 2nd rebuild in the last 5 years and that happens, but they got the consensus best player in the draft with the #2 pick and they're in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. They're no worse than any other rebuilding team.

I don't know why Alex Sarr thought Washington was a better city than Atlanta, but he obviously did.

[BadaBoom]

Beggers being choosers.

He was in a French Basketball podcast a few days ago where he talked about his NBA career, especially the last 2 seasons. He is very honest in his answers and he explained that what happened in NYC was frustrating for him but he took it as a pro because it was the coach's decision.
After this experience he did not want to stay in the NBA at all cost because he wanted to play and compete, not being a mentor for young guys in a tanking team with no drive.
He was even ready to retire if not for a competitive project in Europe.

So in the end, not a beggar at all, just a "chooser" who is at peace with what he wants and it's clearly not "NBA at any cost". I don't really like him as a player but I like that he still enjoys basketball enough to care about competing, kudos to him.

[Indomitable]

I like Fournier, but like many aging NBA players, he's under the impression he's still "the man."

He'll probably never win a championship and is past his prime of being the "go-to" guy. I know it must be hard to accept, but he is at that stage of his career where being a "mentor" to younger players is what's realistic. It's too bad he'd rather go to Europe to prove a point than choose to stay in the NBA and take the money and run.

Good luck to him, though.

He went home for about the same money.

Would you consider it "going home" if a Texas native signed with New York?

No I see a European returning to Europe.

If an American player returned to the states after playing in Europe people call it an home coming.

[_BALLDONTLIE]

He went home for about the same money.

Would you consider it "going home" if a Texas native signed with New York?

No I see a European returning to Europe.

If an American player returned to the states after playing in Europe people call it an home coming.

Yeah makes more sense for an American player returning to America — are you American?

For a European it's very strange to read this analogy.