The NBA free-agency period began with a busy start. Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the New York Knicks reached a $33 million, three-year deal Monday to bring back former MVP Derrick Rose. They also have an agreement with Evan Fournier, who was formerly with the Boston Celtics. Wojnarowski was confirmed by Fournier's agent.According to Wojnarowski, Fournier's contract is for four years. It could be worth as much as $78 million. According to a source, the deal also includes a fourth-year team option.Sources told Wojnarowski that the Knicks also agreed on a three year, $30 million contract to resign guard Alec Burks. They then landed on a $32 million, three-year deal to bring back center Nerlens Norel, Wojnarowski's agent said.New York, which shot only 30 percent from 3-point range in the first round playoff series loss to Atlanta Hawks, now has Fournier. Fournier will give New York an offensive boost along with RJ Barrett (winner of the Most Improved Player Award last season) and Julius Randle.Fournier, 28, is currently playing for France in the Tokyo Olympics. He averaged 17.1 points per match last season and shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range in 42 games, including the Orlando Magic and Celtics.Rose, Burks, and Noel were part of the Knicks' surprising resurgence under Tom Thibodeau, the first-year coach. New York reached the playoffs last season for the first time since seven seasons.Fournier will be a welcome addition to the Knicks' roster. Fournier was lost to the Hawks in five games in the opening round of the 2020-21 Eastern Conference playoffs.Fournier, who had spent six-and a half years with the Magic's, was acquired by the Celtics at the March deadline for a pair second-round picks. Guard Jeff Teague was also traded to the Celtics. Fournier is now part of the huge trade exception that Gordon Hayward created when he signed-and-traded with the Charlotte Hornets.After playing 16 games with the Celtics, Fournier was unable to return to Boston. He also missed a stretch of games because of COVID-19. Fournier has now returned to the Knicks. Fournier agreed to a contract Boston did not want to match as it would have put the Celtics in the luxury tax.The Celtics made clear their intentions by telegraphing their intentions Friday. They used the Hayward trade exception to acquire Josh Richardson's final year, giving them a guard to fit into Ime Udoka’s rotation.Rose was acquired by the Knicks in a midseason deal with the Detroit Pistons. This reunited Rose with Thibodeau, who was his coach during his MVP season in 2010-11 with the Chicago Bulls and again in 2011 with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rose averaged 14.9 point and 4.2 assists, while shooting 48.9% from the field in 35 games for New York.Burks, who is 30, shot 41.5% from 3-point line and averaged 12.7 point per game in 49 games. Burks, a skilled, athletic scorer, found a home in New York after playing for five teams (the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings) over the past two years. He was a constant scoring presence on New York's wing.Noel was a similar player. He played in 64 games in 2020-21 and started in 41. He averaged 2.2 blocks per game, 5.1 points, and 6.4 rebounds per game. Mitchell Robinson, a young center, formed a strong partnership with Noel when they were both healthy. Robinson was injured, so Noel filled in well as the primary option.Noel is entering his eighth NBA season after spending parts of three seasons with 76ers. He was drafted sixth overall by the 76ers in 2013. Noel also spent two seasons with Dallas Mavericks before being drafted with the 76ers. Two seasons later, he signed with the Knicks.
