The NY Knicks have been looking to trade JR Smith since the summer and the team could continue shopping the guard this season, as teams like the LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Clippers, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns or OKC Thunder could be potential targets and this comes after Smith has not looked comfortable in the new triangle offense that New York is using his year.
Ian O'Connor at ESPN New York has a column up about Smith and why the Knicks should trade him and it comes down to the fact that his personality and style of play is not suited to the triangle offense. The Knicks may not get the chance to move Smith, as his contract could be hard to trade and on top of that some teams may not want to deal with Smith and his attitude issues.
The Knicks want to keep as much cap space as possible for next year, as they are hoping to lure some free agents. Names like Marc Gasol, Rajon Rondo and Greg Monroe all potentially could be on the market and the Knicks want as much flexibility as possible. Shumpert could hit the market as a restricted free agent if he is not traded and a dream scenario for the Knicks would be to sign a free agent that's a big name and then bring back Shumpert on a deal.
Phil Jackson may look at trades down the line this year when things get closer to the deadline, as he has some players that could be attractive for teams. The Knicks like Shumpert, but they did not sign him to a contract extension and now he is set to be a restricted free agent next summer and they will have some decisions to make. The team has had trade offers for Shumpert and have rebuffed them over the past year, but Jackson could look at making a move to put the team in better position to sign free agents.
The Knicks want to keep the cap as open as possible and that is why Jackson did not sign Shumpert to a deal. The team would have had to sign him to a likely four year extension and that would bottle up some cap space. The team is getting Stoudemire off the books after this season and there is a chance he could be a trade target because of his expiring contract. Reports have the Knicks looking at Marc Gasol, Rajon Rondo and Greg Monroe as top free agent targets.
Shumpert is a player to watch this season, as the Knicks are hoping that he develops into a prime player and he comes in eligible for a contract extension. The Knicks had offers last season for Shumpert and did not trade him and while Phil Jackson likes what he brings to the table, the team could consider deals this season. Ian Begley at ESPN.com reported that the two sides did not talk about a contract extension for the young star and that could lead to a deal down the line.
