4 potential buyout targets that can boost Lakers’ title chances

Evan Fournier could be a buyout target for the Lakers

Evan Fournier has really drawn the short end of the stick with the New York Knicks. Granted, he got paid a big contract from the Knicks to make it better but his tenure with the team could not have gone worse than it has.

Fournier’s early struggles with the Knicks resulted in a fractured relationship with head coach Tom Thibodeau (and the fanbase) that resulted in Fournier getting axed out of the rotation altogether. He played just 27 games last season and has only appeared in one game thus far for the Knicks.

It is a given that Fournier will not finish the season in New York and the only reason why he is still around is so the Knicks could potentially include him as salary filler in a trade. If that does not happen, the Knicks will absolutely look to buy Fournier out considering he has a club option in the offseason.

His recent track record has not been great and if the Lakers wanted to take a flier on him it would be an example of the team trying to maximize a sunk cost. If there are no other compelling buyout targets then it wouldn’t hurt to bring Fournier in and see if he can offer something.

Because at his best, Fournier was one of the best three-point shooting role players in the league who can be a serviceable perimeter defender in the right setting with the right pieces around him. There is a reason why he got that big contract in the first place, after all.