As the Knicks work to clear out the logjam in their backcourt, they’re discussing potential trade options involving Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, and Shane Larkin, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Tim Hardaway Jr., however, has been deemed virtually untouchable according to one source.
President Phil Jackson and GM Steve Mills have mentioned the Knicks’ surplus in the backcourt, with Mills saying last week the Knicks are “heavy” at shooting guard. What they can get in return for Smith, Shump, and Larkin remains to be seen, however.
The Knicks tried to include Shumpert in deals earlier in the offseason in an effort to unload the contracts of Andrea Bargnani ($11.5MM) and Amar’e Stoudemire ($23.4MM) but no deal materialized for either player. Smith has a player option in his contract for $6.4MM for the 2015/16 season and is coming off of a down year. Larkin was recently acquired from the Mavericks in the trade that also netted Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert.
The Knicks have four shooting guards on the roster as of today and they also haven’t ruled out re-signing free agent PG/SG Toure’ Murry.
Sixers wanted too much, but to max out their cap space on 1 guy, I’d ask for a lot too – and Shumpert is NOT a good asset to take with Stoudemire.
The Knicks are willing to trade JR Smith and his ridiculous contraact..that IS news worthy!
Haha…the Knicks want to trade JR Smiths contract? Haha…yeah, I would too. He’ll be on the books next year when he picks that option up. No way a team bites on that. He’s a bad player making a ton of money.
They’re willing to trade Shumpert and Larkin? Don’t they realize that guards that can’t shoot are not assets? They’re roster filler. Nobody is trading anything valuable for them, and nobody is certainly taking a bad deal to get them.