The New York Knicks are preparing for the departure of Carmelo Anthony. The guard has officially opted of his contract and will test free agency meaning the Knicks could be incredibly shorthanded come 2014. With no first-round draft picks in the near future, Phil Jackson is making it a priority to obtain at least one in this deep draft which could mean a player is sent packing by Thursday.
ESPN's Marc Stein is reporting that the Knicks are attempting to shop Iman Shumpert in exchange for a first-round draft before Thursday when the official NBA Draft begins. The idea of trading Shumpert is certainly not new. The small forward has had his name tossed around in talks since the mid-season deadline. The Knicks came close to dealing him for point guard Kyle Lowry, but backed out at the last minute. Stein reports that Jackson believes the young player has more value than others and could land New York the draft pick they need.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were interested in Shumpert last season during the trading period and immediately become favorites to land him once again. Stein reporting that the Thunder are favorites to land Shumpert, liking his ability to make an impact on both sides of the ball. They own the 21st and 29th pick in the first round and New York would gladly take either one by Thursday.
The trade of Shumpert is smart simply because of the return he can get. Yes, he is one of the better young players in the league and could develop into an elite defender over time. However, while giving up Shumpert now hurts, in the long run it is a smart move. There is a good chance they lose Anthony to another team. That means New York says goodbye to their franchise player and have no draft picks to replace him. That would make next season very tough on the Knicks.
Shumpert will get the best return rate of anyone else on the roster. The Knicks are still considering a trade for Tyson Chandler or Amar'e Stoudemire, but neither player would get the Knicks into the first round. If all deals fail, Stein reports New York will consider buying their way into the first round, but that is a last-ditch effort.
