The New York Knicks remain one of the worst teams in the NBA right now. After surrounding themselves with championship expectations in the preseason, so far this season has been met with nothing but disappointment. This has opened the team up to a large number of trade rumors and as the deadline slowly approaches, it is becoming clear which players are staying and which are going.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports that Tyson Chandler is not going anywhere. This of course is always subject to change, but Stein is reporting the Knicks have received multiple calls regarding the availability for the center and so far New York has turned down everyone. After missing several weeks due to injury, the team views Chandler as the anchor of the defense and a piece that could sway the free agency decision of Carmelo Anthony.
Chandler is part of the highly anticipated 2015 free agency class and might not remain part of the Knicks after that, but for now the team is content with keeping the center. Chandler is averaging 7.8 points and 7.6 rebounds a game after missing 20 games for a broken leg.
So Chandler is staying, but what about players like Iman Shumpert? The 23-year-old has been the subject of numerous trade rumors as many teams would love to add the guard into their backcourt. He has been playing much better as the season continues. The Knicks have tossed around numerous trade packages all involving him, something he is growing annoyed with.
"It gets annoying," Shumpert said via The Michael Kay Show on ESPN NY 98.7 FM. "I think at first it didn't bother me as much but after a while a combination of that and not seeing my shot fall, you start to think a little bit too much when you're on the floor. You can't do that. You have to keep playing. It's all a part of the game."
Could the Knicks send Shumpert packing? The team has expressed interest in Denver Nuggets' point guard Andre Miller who is available for trading. Stein reported earlier that the Knicks could put together a deal involving Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. for the veteran. That would send away two young stars with a lot of potential. Is the deal worth it?
Owner James Dolan noted back in December that the Knicks would not be making any trades or coaching staff changes before the deadline. It remains to be seen if he holds true to his words.
