During last year's mid-season trading period, Iman Shumpert's value was high. The New York Knicks had every opportunity to move Shumpert. The Oklahoma City Thunder were interested. The Los Angeles Clippers were considering a deal. However, in the end the team held on to the young guard, but with Phil Jackson in place they are trying to move him again and not having the easiest time. With Shumpert's value appearing to have dropped, will New York continue to try and force a deal?
According to Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders, Shumpert's trade value is very low despite some viewing him as a potential growing star in the league. Jackson prefers to not keep Shumpert. Right now, the team has too many shooting guards with players like JR Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr and Carmelo Anthony all on the roster. Hardaway Jr has been deemed untouchable in trade talks and no one wants Smith's contract and immaturity. That leaves Shumpert as the prime target, but no one is biting.
David reports that the Knicks are hoping to close out the offseason with a trade involving Shumpert. Right now, no one is interested in taking on either Amar'e Stoudemire or Andrea Bargnani, but their contracts are coming off the books in 2015, so dealing the guard will help relieve even more cap space for a major run in the 2015 offseason. The issue for New York is that they lack assets to pair with Shumpert in a deal. It is clear no one is willing to give up a player for just the guard alone. The Knicks have been trying to pair either Stoudemire or Bargnani in a deal with him, but have come up short every time. With no draft picks to deal either, the Knicks are likely going to have to retain Shumpert through his deal.
Jackson has said that there is a chance the roster will remain as such. He has no plans on doing any more spending in the offseason considering the Knicks' lack of funds to begin with. While the team would ideally like to put together a trade for one more impact player, Jackson might be forced to move on from those efforts.
