The NY Knicks have not talked a contract extension yet with Iman Shumpert and this comes after a summer filled with trade rumors and speculation and now Phil Jackson may look at deals with Shumpert, Andrea Bargnani, JR Smith or Pablo Prigioni at points this season as New York tries to clear roster and cap space to sign free agents in 2015 like Rajon Rondo or Marc Gasol.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Knicks and Shumpert have not yet talked a deal ahead of the October 31 deadline to get an extension done. The Knicks are in the same position as the Timberwolves are with Ricky Rubio, as both Rubio and Shumpert are eligible to sign extensions. The two would be restricted free agents next summer if they don't get a deal done and right now it looks like Rubio is headed that way. The report says that Shumpert is unlikely to get an extension at the number he wants, as the Knicks want to see how he plays this season after some of his numbers have dipped over the past couple seasons.
Shumpert has been an above average defensive presence for the Knicks and his athleticism is not in question, but his scoring and shooting percentage have dropped in each of the past two years. Shumpert is one of the top young players on the Knicks along with Tim Hardaway Jr. and while a trade likely isn't the best way to develop a young player, the team may feel that Shumpert will not get much better than where he already is. The Knicks would be wise to give him a long look though, as he has shown flashes of great things and some more time could be all that is needed to get it out of him consistently.
The report from Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN says that the Knicks have not had any contact yet with Shumpert and his people about a new deal. The team is looking to keep space clear to make moves in free agency next summer and that is one reason why they haven't come to an agreement yet. Another reason is because restricted free agents have become something of a mess in the NBA and the team feels that they can still retain Shumpert even if he makes it to the market as an RFA.
The Knicks are coming into the season with high expectations and no matter what happens, Shumpert will come up in trade rumors again if he doesn't sign a deal. The Knicks are going to go hard in free agency next summer and names like Rajon Rondo, Marc Gasol or Greg Monroe could be options for the team. Eric Bledsoe and Greg Monroe showed that being a restricted free agent can be tough and getting a new long term deal may not be in the cards for Shumpert. The Knicks will have to give Shumpert a one-year, $3.7 million qualifying offer next summer to give themselves the chance to match any RFA offers and that is likely the way this will play out. The team traded Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton already and now Shumpert, Stoudemire, Bargnani or someone else could be next.
