Report: Knicks open to dealing J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert
The New York Knicks are discussing possible trade options for guards J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Shane Larkin, reports Ian Begley of ESPN.com.
Smith, who won the NBA's Sixth Man of the year award in 2013, has a player option in his contract for $6.4 million for the 2015-16 season. He is set to make $5,982,375 this season. He averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season. Smith was fined $50,000 for untying opponents' shoelaces last season.
More from Begley:
“They’re working on trying to make a move in the backcourt,” the NBA source familiar with the Knicks’ thinking said Sunday.
Shumpert, 24, averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 74 games last season. He has been in trade talks for the past year and was reportedly targeted by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers.
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Larkin, who spent his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, was traded to New York last month along with Samuel Dalembert, Jose Calderon and Wayne Ellington for Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. He averaged 2.8 points and 1.5 assists in 48 games last season.
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