The Knicks and Pacers have each gotten the best of each other once during the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with the series tied at one game apiece heading into Saturday. Another factor will likely be thrown into the equation soon, as Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports that Amare Stoudemire is expected to make a return for Game 3. The 6'11 forward - who has been recovering from knee surgery - says he expects to play at a high level and figures to be under a 10-15 minute limit under the discretion of coach Mike Woodson. Here's more out of Manhattan tonight: 

• Adi Joseph of USA Today discusses why Amare's return might not necessarily help the team against Indiana, arguing that it could cause the Knicks to go away from the small lineups that have been successful for them. 
• Almost a year ago, then-promising rookie Iman Shumpert suffered a debilitating ACL injury during the first round of the playoffs that sidelined him for several months. Zach Schonburn of the New York Times compares the 6'5 sophomore guard's rust and timid return in January to now, arguably playing his best basketball as a Knicks player since being drafted at such an important time of the year. 
• Newsday's Jim Baumbach notes Tyson Chandler's struggles with Roy Hibbert so far in the series and that the 7'1 center is trying to get his conditioning and timing back. 

With an All-Star appearance and two championships on his resume, Andrew Bynum looked primed to stake his claim as the Eastern Conference's premier center after joining the 76ers last summer. Unfortunately, injury setbacks have kept Bynum from suiting up in a regular season game in Philadelphia, and a huge question mark looms over his future as he approaches free agency this summer. ESPN's Chris Broussard, who originally thought that the 76ers were the biggest beneficiaries of the Dwight Howard trade, spoke with six other NBA executives about how they would handle the 7-foot center's contract situation this summer (Insiders only). Although they each offer unique approaches, it's not much of a surprise that none would offer a max contract. Here's more out of the Atlantic Division: 

• Jared Zwerling and Ian Begley of ESPN New York discussed the latest on the Knicks, most notably about the health of Carmelo Anthony and Iman Shumpert. Begley also added that he thinks that the team will revisit adding another player before the playoffs start, being that it would be a big gamble to start the postseason with three players unavailable due to season-ending injuries. 
• Newsday's Barbara Baker says that Shumpert appears healthy today after a scare during last night's game against the Magic, when the second year guard said he felt a "pop" in the same knee that he suffered an ACL injury almost one year ago. 
• Tim Smith of the New York Daily News talks about Kenyon Martin's resurgence with the Knicks as the former number one pick fills in for the team's injured big men.
• Danny Ainge told Salk and Holley of 93.7 WEEI FM that Celtics swingman Jeff Green is starting to prove that he deserves to be on the court for "most minutes of the game" (Ben Rohrbach of WEEI.com reports).  

The Celtics are in the market for a free agent big man, and we heard this morning that the club is considering signing D.J. White to a 10-day contract. White isn't the only player Boston has its eye on, however. According to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, Jerome Jordan, Tim Ohlbrecht, Shavlik Randolph, and Louis Amundson are among the other players being considered by the Celtics.

Here are a few more post-trade-deadline notes out of the Atlantic Division:

• 76ers GM Tony DiLeo spoke to the media about acquiring Charles Jenkins in what he calls a "no-risk" move, and said that he talked to every NBA team about potential trades before the deadline (video link via NBA.com).
• As Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News tweets, DiLeo also said that re-signing Andrew Bynum remains "Plan A" for the Sixers, but that the team's cap flexibility allows for "Plan B"s as well.
• Knicks GM Glen Grunwald told ESPN Radio that the Knicks had "a number of inquiries" on Iman Shumpert, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
• While Nets fans may be disappointed that the club couldn't land Josh Smith yesterday, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post thinks hanging on to assets will benefit the team in the long run.
• Although a Lithuanian report suggested that injury woes could put Linas Kleiza's career in jeopardy, the forward told reporters today that's not true, and that he expects to return soon (Twitter link via Holly MacKenzie of Sportsnet).

Shortly after the trade deadline passed at 3pm ET on Thursday, it was revealed that the Hawks pulled out of discussions with the Bucks on a deal for Josh Smith. This would-be blockbuster was not the only deal that was discussed but never came to fruition. Here is a roundup of other deals that were discussed but never came to pass:

• Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com writes that the Nuggets opted to stay the course rather than dealing a player such as Timofey Mozgov, whom they had been rumored to be shopping.
• Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News tweets that the Warriors explored the market for forward Carl Landry but ultimately did not find a deal they liked.
• Jeff Caplan of NBA.com tweets that the Mavericks received calls about rookies Jae Crowder and Bernard James, but ultimately decided not to deal either player.
• Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Knicks GM Glen Grunwald never seriously considered trading Iman Shumpert, despite reports to the contrary.

The Knicks' front office typically doesn't talk to the media too often, which leaves coach Mike Woodson to discuss the team's plans as the trade deadline approaches. And Woodson has been insisting this week that a deal isn't likely for the Knicks, who the head coach believes can beat the Heat with the current roster. Here's the latest out of New York from Marc Berman of the New York Post:

• One source to Berman, on the Knicks' deadline plans: "They’re not even waiting on anything. It’s pretty safe to say they’re not making a deal."
• The Knicks are more likely to sign a free agent after they wait to see which players receive buyouts. Jermaine O'Neal is one possibility there, and the team also continues to monitor current free agent Kenyon Martin.
• Contrary to previous reports, Berman says the Knicks have "no interest" in Louis Amundson.
• A source shot down a previously-reported rumor that the Knicks could explore trading Iman Shumpert and Amare Stoudemire for Josh Smith. No surprise there, since the idea of the Hawks taking on Stoudemire's contract was always pretty outrageous.
• There's also no traction on talks with the Magic involving J.J. Redick, says Berman. The Knicks would have needed to include a third team, and weren't interested in giving up Shumpert anyway.

Last night, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that many teams around the NBA are convinced that the Hawks will move Josh Smith by Thursday's trade deadline. Stein cited the Celtics as one team with interest, but wrote that he couldn't see them giving up Paul Pierce in a deal for Smith. We'll likely hear a few more rumors and rumblings on Smith today, so we'll round all those up in one place, with the latest updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:

• The Nets' latest offer includes Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and either a first-round pick or the draft rights to Bojan Bogdanovic, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
• HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy says the strangest rumor he's heard involves Josh Smith and filler (possibly Zaza Pachulia) going to the Knicks for Amare Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert. 

Earlier updates:

• ESPN's Chris Broussard tweets that although the Suns have been in touch with the Hawks regarding Smith, a deal is very unlikely. 
• The Hawks called the Clippers and asked about acquiring Eric Bledsoe in a Smith trade, but the conversation was short, according to Broussard, who says the Clips aren't really interested in Smith (Twitter link).
• Broussard adds in a second tweet that Smith heading to the Suns in a package headlined by Marcin Gortat is "unlikely."
• Most of the offers the Hawks have received so far for Smith have been underwhelming, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
• Several members of the Warriors organization tell Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group (Sulia link) that they think Smith would be an ideal fit in Golden State. However, the club wouldn't want to give up Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes for a free-agent-to-be, so a trade is "improbable at best."

• In talks with the Bucks, the Hawks' primary target is believed to be Monta Ellis, according to Stein (via Twitter).
• While the Nets continue to pursue Smith, the Hawks don't have interest in any offer that sees them take on Kris Humphries, tweets Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. There aren't many clubs interested in acquiring Humphries in a three-way deal either, says Windhorst.
• One team close to the situation predicts that the Nets will ultimately land Smith in a three-team deal, according to Stein.
• Stein adds that the Suns and Bucks are also viewed as strong suitors for Smith. However, with both clubs, there are doubts about whether the veteran forward would be willing to re-sign as a free agent this summer.
• The Rockets are fans of Smith, but are more likely to pursue him this summer than this week, says Stein.
• ESPN.com's Chris Broussard tweets that the Wizards have made all but three players (John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Nene) available in talks for Smith.
• The Timberwolves still aren't believed to be in the mix for Smith, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
• Sources tell John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer that the Hawks approached the Sixers about trading Smith for Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes. However, it seems Philadelphia wasn't interested.

We have a handful of noteworthy links to share on two Eastern Conference shooting guards who have been part of many trade rumors in recent weeks, including one involving a possible swap for each other:

• Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that J.J. Redick would expect to command a contract offer worth around $40MM over 4 years (according to his agent, Arn Tellem). While Wojnarowski doesn't think Redick will receive that type of deal, he thinks one that pays $7MM annually is realistic. The Pacers, Bucks, Bulls, and Timberwolves have all shown interest in the 6'5 guard, but are unwilling to concede a first-round pick and a young player for what could be a rental. 
• Wojnarowski feels that the 76ers could be a real possibility as a free agent destination for Redick, taking into account the strong relationship between Redick and Doug Collins' son.
• Steve Kyler thinks that Redick's time in Orlando could be up soon, as the Magic have been in touch with several teams about the sharpshooting guard's availability as of late. Orlando's asking price for the former Duke star has been relatively steep (an unprotected first round pick), and interested teams have also had to consider that Redick could possibly test the market this summer as an unrestricted free agent. However, Kyler thinks that with the Magic involved in lots of discussions, it's within reason to believe that they could lower their asking price by Thursday. 
• One player linked to Redick trade rumors has been Knicks guard Iman Shumpert, who Alex Kennedy says has been shopped in order to see if anything else can be had that brings New York closer to title contention. While nothing appears imminent, Kennedy says that the Knicks are clearly weighing their options right now and should be a team to keep an eye out for over the next few days. 

The Magic and Knicks have had discussions about a deal that would send J.J. Redick to New York and Iman Shumpert to Orlando, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Kennedy notes that if the teams were to get serious about a trade, other players, or perhaps a third club, would have to get involved in order to match salaries.

Shumpert's agent, Happy Walters, said yesterday that reports indicating that his client is unhappy with his role in New York and wants to be traded are "totally false." However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Knicks wouldn't consider moving him. Although the team seems to value Shumpert highly, he remains virtually the only young piece on a team of veterans. If the Knicks decide to go all-in to contend in the short term, the second-year guard would be the club's most logical trade chip.

The Suns were also said to have interest in Shumpert, though ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reported last week that a deal involving Shumpert and Jared Dudley is "not happening." Meanwhile, the Bucks, Bulls, and Pacers are among the teams reportedly interested in Redick.

MONDAY, 7:53am: Although Sheridan indicated that people close to Shumpert "prefer Iman in another situation," agent Happy Walters took to Twitter to call that report "totally false," adding that no one in Shumpert's camp has asked for a trade.

That doesn't necessarily mean that a deal involving Shumpert won't happen, but Walters seems to suggest the second-year guard is happy in New York.

SATURDAY, 12:43pm: The New York Knicks are open to the idea of trading Iman Shumpert, Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com reports. A source tells Sheridan that the second-year guard is unhappy with being played out of position at small forward, and wants to either see his developmental situation resolved or be moved.

In recent weeks, Shumpert has been linked to the Phoenix Suns, possibly in a trade that would include Jared Dudley. Coming off a torn ACL suffered in the 2012 playoffs, Shumpert is averaging 5.3 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 13 games for the Knicks this season.

Already today, we've passed along a few trade rumors from Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game and Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. Now, it's Chris Broussard's turn, as the ESPN reporter has published a lengthy Insider-only piece on the latest rumblings from around the league. Here's what Broussard has for us:

• The Hornets have made some calls to gauge Eric Gordon's trade value, but Broussard hears that there's less than a 10% chance he's moved within the next week. The Mavericks, Rockets, and the Warriors are among the clubs believed to have inquired on Gordon.
• The Rockets still figure to make a run at Dwight Howard this summer, but Andrew Bynum and perhaps a trade for Gordon are the team's Plan Bs. Since Houston is saving its cap space for the summer, the club isn't expected to be too active at the trade deadline.
• Indiana will likely keep Danny Granger through the deadline, but is willing to move Tyler Hansbrough, D.J. Augustin, or Gerald Green. The Pacers dangled Hansbrough and Augustin when talking to the Magic about J.J. Redick, but Orlando didn't have interest.
• Three different general managers told Broussard on Wednesday that Danny Ferry and the Hawks have decided not to re-sign Josh Smith this summer and are trying hard to trade him this week. Rival executives don't expect Ferry to settle for the Nets' offer of Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks, however.
• The Hawks have also discussed moving Kyle Korver and Anthony Morrow.
• Teams have been calling the Suns, one of the league's most active clubs, about Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris, and Jared Dudley. A deal with the Knicks involving Dudley and Iman Shumpert is "not happening," according to Broussard's sources.
• As has been the case for many reporters over the last few weeks, Broussard has received mixed reports on whether the Jazz are more likely to trade Paul Millsap or Al Jefferson. The Trail Blazers are one team that likes Millsap, says Broussard.
• A few executives that have spoken to Broussard have mentioned the possibility of the Clippers trying to trade DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler to create the necessary cap space to make a play for Dwight Howard this summer. That one sounds awfully far-fetched to me though, considering the team would have to make additional moves to clear enough room, and would have to acquire only expiring contracts in return. Even then, there's no guarantee they could land Howard as a free agent.