by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni
Things aren’t going very well for the New York Knicks. Off to an ugly 3-6 start, players are sniping at each other through the press, JR Smith is in danger of losing his newly-acquired starting position, and management is looking to shake up the roster.
Iman Shumpert is the team’s lone tradeable asset, and the Knicks are doing all they can to package him in a deal (with little success). The latest rumor is that New York approached the Boston Celtics about a blockbuster deal involving Rajon Rondo.
Per the NY Daily News and ESPN:
There are also reports of the Knicks talking to the Sacramento Kings about a deal for Shumpert. Coincidentally, Kings forward Jason Thompson is represented by Leon Rose, the agent for Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Chris Smith. The Knicks’ primary target is Rondo, Boston’s All-Star point guard who is recovering from knee surgery. The Knicks have been trying to trade Shumpert, Raymond Felton and Stoudemire in a complicated deal for Rondo but the Celtics haven’t shown much interest.
Sources did say the Celtics would be willing to take on Stoudemire’s contract if they could unload some of their longer deals, namely those of (Gerald) Wallace and Courtney Lee. The Knicks may be reluctant to take Wallace back because they’re hesitant to take on salary beyond the 2014-15 season.
The Knicks would obviously love to move Amar’e Stoudemire’s giant contract off their books, but that seems like wishful thinking at this point.
Things are further complicated by reports of a secret knee operation that Iman Shumpert underwent during the offseason. That being the case, it certainly feels like it’s only a matter of time until he’s dealt away.
