Report: Knicks discussing trade options for Smith, Shumpert
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The New York Knicks are reportedly looking into trade options for guards J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Shane Larkin.
“They’re working on trying to make a move in the backcourt,” an NBA source said to ESPNNewYork.com on Sunday.
As ESPN's Ian Begley writes:
The idea that the Knicks are trying to make a trade to balance the roster isn’t earth-shattering. President Phil Jackson and GM Steve Mills have mentioned the Knicks have a surplus in the backcourt, with Mills saying last week the Knicks are “heavy” at shooting guard.
The Knicks just have to decide who to ship out and what their return value might be.
Smith has a player option in his contract for the 2015-16 season worth $6.4 million, but the former Sixth Man of the Year had a turbulent season in non-basketball related issues. Untying players' shoes is just scratching the surface.
Shumpert was available in trade talks all season long, though nothing materialized. Like Smith, it's unclear where his value sits at.
A source in the report did stress that Tim Hardaway Jr. is "virtually untouchable."