Even before the season began, and JR Smith predictably struggled to fit into the New York Knicks’ new offensive scheme, team president Phil Jackson hinted that the shooting guard’s days in Gotham were numbered.
The Knicks and Indiana Pacers have reportedly been discussing a potential JR Smith-Chris Copeland swap.
Copeland left the Knicks and signed with Indy as a free agent a couple of summers ago.
Per the NY Post:
One of president Phil Jackson’s big decisions this season is whether to trade J.R. Smith, and the club had recent conversations with the Pacers regarding ex-Knick Chris Copeland, according to a league source.
The 6-foot-9 Copeland, whom the Pacers signed in July 2013, has an expiring contract after bolting the Knicks for a two-year, $6 million deal, so he wouldn’t affect their 2015 cap space.
Smith, meanwhile, can opt out of the $6.4 million he has coming in 2015-16, but there’s still a chance he will wait to be a free agent until 2016 when the salary cap is expected to rise dramatically. The Knicks are trying to open up as much cap space as possible and would benefit if Smith opts out or if they trade him for an expiring contract. […] According to a source, Jackson has no plans to make any deals until Dec. 15 — a key NBA date as 2014 free-agent signees and 2014 draft picks are eligible to be traded.
