Knicks would make Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier and Mitchell Robinson available in eventual Joel Embiid trade

After Evan Fournier showcased his shooting Saturday night, the Knicks guard got a hardy endorsement — and words of advice — from a fellow Frenchman who is helping Fournier navigate a “disrespectful” situation. “He’s the best shooter on the team. He’s the best shooter on the Knicks,” Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves center and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, told The Post. “In terms of pure 3-point shooting, I think he’s the best. “I think he can contribute and help a lot of teams. I think everybody knows it. But it’s kind of weird when you end up on the bench and you don’t really know why. Sometimes you can be stuck in a situation — I know he’s going to have an opportunity again, and everybody will understand that he can help and win. And do it at a high level. And do it every night.” -via New York Post / October 15, 2023

Keeping in mind these are only exhibitions, Fournier’s 40 combined minutes represent the first time he’s played that much in consecutive NBA games since October 2022. He collected 55 healthy DNPs last season and acknowledged disdain for the situation. “It’s unfortunate that it feels disrespectful. When things go that way and communication is not where he’d like it to be with his coach. But I think it’s better now. Hopefully,” said Gobert, who was teammates with Fournier on France’s national team at the Olympics and FIBA World Cup. “And he looked great (Saturday night). I know it’s going to be alright. And if it’s not here, it’s somewhere else. So if they don’t value him, I know there’s a lot of other teams that would take him on. And I know he’s a winner. He’s a great teammate. He keeps putting in the work. And I know he always will. Good things will happen.” -via New York Post / October 15, 2023

“I think it makes them better for sure,” Fournier said. “They’ve been saying they need a dominant big man and now they have one. So they’re better. It’s good for basketball, for the Olympics. I think basketball is gonna be the main event in Paris next year, so it’s good for the sport.” -via New York Daily News / October 9, 2023

Skechers is expected to launch its new basketball division with a class of NBA players. While Embiid would cause the biggest ripple, New York Knicks All-Star Julius Randle and Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann are expected to sign with the brand as well, industry sources said. -via The Athletic / October 18, 2023

Brian Robb: Knicks will be resting a number of their starters including Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson tonight vs. Celtics. -via Twitter @BrianTRobb / October 17, 2023

Stefan Bondy: Julius Randle on his deal with Sketchers: “It’s an opportunity to do things outside of the box and things I might not have been able to do with Nike or Jordan. …It’s the 4th largest shoe in the world. They have a market and now they’re trying to tap into a different market.” -via Twitter @SBondyNYDN / October 13, 2023

Fred Katz: Mitchell Robinson reworked his free throw form this summer. Holds the ball a little farther back in his hand now. Trying to get more arc on his shot. Asked him if he has a free-throw percentage goal for this season: “Higher than it was last year,” he said. -via Twitter @FredKatz / October 23, 2023

Mitchell Robinson’s name came up in the Knicks’ talks with Portland about a potential Jrue Holiday trade, per SNY sources. Obviously, nothing came to fruition there, but any team talking to the Knicks about a significant deal will probably ask about Robinson. He’s young, productive and on a reasonable contract. -via SportsNet New York / October 15, 2023

The asking price for a player like New York’s Mitchell Robinson, sources told Yahoo Sports, is multiple first-round picks — probably a non-starter for most clubs. -via Yahoo! Sports / September 29, 2023