Iman Shumpert represents the small bit of youth on the New York Knicks roster so naturally the team is considering trading him. Shumpert has been in the middle of trade rumors for months now and so far the team has done nothing to finalize something. However, once again as the deadline approaches, Shumpert is once again being dangled in front of several teams.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Knicks are striking up conversations with the Denver Nuggets with Kenneth Faried being the targeted player. This is exact trade was discussed back in November. The New York Daily News first reported that the Knicks and Nuggets were discussing things over since JR Smith had slightly picked up his game. After those negotiations went nowhere, the two sides are talking once again.
The Knicks are trying to land an impact player and they believe the third-year guard can get them the return they desire. Shumpert has struggled all season, putting up seven points per game on 38.1 shooting percentage. While he is young and could certainly develop into a top player for New York, the team needs production now.
Faried could be that player. He is putting up 10.5 points and 7.6 rebounds on 54.7 percent shooting per game. While his long shot is inconsistent, his athleticism makes up for it. It is hard to believe the Nuggets would consider parting ways with him which could mean the Knicks have to give up more than just Shumpert to make the trade happen.
Stein reports Denver might also be looking for draft compensation, something New York does not have. The Knicks cannot afford to give up any more draft picks. The team does not have a first-round pick until 2018, but they also do not have any other tradable assets on their roster to please the Nuggets.
Denver has a bad payroll situation on their hands. Faried will be looking for a pay raise when his rookie deal is up so trading him now is not a bad option. Denver is currently six games out of the playoff race in the West. The team has two first-round draft picks to use this summer and might be smart to rebuild slightly with youth like Shumpert.
New York needs to find a way to make this trade work. Shumpert is not getting any better and while Faried's stats are down this season, he brings high energy to the court. The Knicks are currently sitting two games out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. If they can get a mid-season turnaround, there might be hope to save the year.
