Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Shumpert, Rondo, Davies
In a move that was long expected, the Knicks assigned Chris Smith to the D-League’s Erie BayHawks earlier today. The younger brother of star guard J.R. Smith was in the headlines recently after Pistons guard Brandon Jennings insinuated that he was the beneficiary of nepotism and the elder Smith responded with what appeared to be a threat via Twitter. Here’s the evening edition of Atlantic Notes..
- Iman Shumpert‘s name has been all over Hoops Rumors for the last week but he says that he won’t let it affect his play. “Thanks to all fans who [are] concerned. I feel [your] presence in my corner as usual! I’m more worried about winning than trade rumors,” tweeted the Knicks guard.
- Celtics head coach Brad Stevens says that star Rajon Rondo is making progress but a timetable for a return remains unclear, tweets Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe. Stevens says that he doesn’t expect Rondo’s return to come “very, very soon.” Earlier today, Celtics GM Danny Ainge made it clear that Rondo is not going anywhere, despite talk of interest from other clubs.
- Brandon Davies went undrafted out of Brigham Young University and was waived by the Clippers in the preseason, but the 6’10”, 240-pound rookie is making quite an impression with the Sixers, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s got a real motor,” coach Brett Brown said of the combo forward. “He’s got a tenacity that you are born with. … I love the way he plays.”
Poll: Should Knicks Trade Iman Shumpert?
Outside of perhaps Omer Asik, no player has been involved in more trade rumors in the first month of the season than Iman Shumpert. Shumpert has been linked to the Nuggets and Celtics, among other teams, and is reportedly drawing leaguewide interest, though nothing is imminent.
There are a number of reasons why Shumpert finds himself at the center of so many trade rumors early in the 2013/14 season. The 23-year-old is viewed as potentially expendable because the Knicks already have players like Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Metta World Peace at the two and three. More importantly, with the Knicks off to a slow start, they have holes that need filling, and Shumpert represents their best trade chip. New York has traded away most of its draft picks and doesn’t have another player with Shumpert’s combination of youth, upside, and affordability.
Still, Shumpert’s youth, upside, and affordability are also prime reasons for the Knicks to hang on to him. For a team overloaded with aging players on expensive multiyear contracts, Shumpert is perhaps the only Knick who has yet to reach his ceiling. The club isn’t so overloaded on the wing that there’s no room for the third-year swingman, particularly if Carmelo plays power forward more frequently. Depending on what sort of value they can get back in a deal, rushing to deal Shumpert may backfire on the Knicks in both the short-term and the long-term.
The Nuggets reportedly wanted a first-round pick in addition to Shumpert for Kenneth Faried, while the Celtics quickly shot down the idea that a Shumpert-centric package could land Rajon Rondo. In other words, it’s unlikely that the Knicks could acquire an impact player for Shumpert alone. Taking that into account, is it worth it for New York to trade him, or would the club be better off keeping him and hoping he starts to deliver on some of the potential he’s shown?
Should the Knicks trade Iman Shumpert?
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Yes 54% (447)
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No 46% (388)
Total votes: 835
Atlantic Notes: Chris Smith, Raptors, C’s
Let’s check out a few of the latest items from out of the Atlantic Division….
- The Knicks have assigned Chris Smith to the D-League, the team announced today (Twitter link). The regular season is set to get underway for the Erie BayHawks later this week, so Smith should get a chance to earn the minutes he wasn’t seeing in New York.
- Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun believes the Raptors, as constructed, could be a playoff team in the East this season. However, Wolstat doesn’t endorse building around the current core long-term, suggesting that the pieces don’t really fit together. Wolstat adds (via Twitter) that what should be done with the roster and what can be done are two different things, since teams aren’t exactly “beating down [the] doors” to trade for Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, or Kyle Lowry.
- The Celtics‘ offseason roster moves have forced Jeff Green into a more prominent role, but he may be miscast as a focal point of the offense, observes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
- Earlier today, we rounded up several Knicks rumors and passed along Danny Ainge‘s comments on Rajon Rondo trade rumors.
Danny Ainge Denies Discussing Rondo Trade
12:12pm: Ainge also spoke to Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe, expressing in even stronger terms that no teams have inquired on Rondo and that he doesn’t expect any clubs to do so.
“Rondo is coming off an injury and I think people know how much we love Rondo, so I don’t expect anybody to inquire, quite honestly,” Ainge said. “People know that Rondo is a big part of our future and that we’re not going to trade him.”
I find it hard to believe that not one team has at least kicked the tires on Rondo, but either way, he seems to be unavailable. In Ainge’s words: “He’s going nowhere.”
11:57am: In what has become an annual ritual, Celtics GM Danny Ainge denied having trade talks about Rajon Rondo, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. Previous reports have suggested that the Knicks inquired on the injured point guard, but Ainge wouldn’t confirm having talked to New York.
“I haven’t talked to any teams about Rajon Rondo,” said the Celtics GM, adding that Rondo remains very much a part of the club’s plans going forward.
I’m inclined to believe that the Knicks at least asked about Rondo, though based on the rumored package they suggested, it makes sense that the conversation wouldn’t have lasted long. So perhaps when Ainge says he hasn’t spoken to any teams about his point guard, he means he hasn’t actually entered any negotiations beyond that initial inquiry.
Rondo has been subject to trade rumors in the past, despite Ainge’s repeated public insistence that Boston isn’t looking to trade the last key member of the club’s championship core. According to Bulpett, the recent reports prompted several other teams to call Ainge and inquire about Rondo’s availability, which the C’s GM referred to as “frustrating.” I expect Ainge will be frustrated a few more times before February’s trade deadline, since the interest in Rondo should only increase as he gets healthier.
Knicks Rumors: Shumpert, Thompson, Faried
Since word broke last week that the Nuggets and Knicks discussed a potential deal centered around Kenneth Faried and Iman Shumpert, several subsequent reports have added more details related to Shumpert’s availability. There’s reportedly leaguewide interest in Shumpert, who appears more and more likely to be moved at some point, since he represents the Knicks’ best trade asset.
Yesterday, we learned that the Knicks made a run at Rajon Rondo, but were rebuffed by the Celtics, who would be open to taking on Amar’e Stoudemire‘s contract if it meant moving Gerald Wallace and Courtney Lee. Meanwhile, reports also indicated Shumpert underwent a previously unreported surgical procedure, which could have negatively affected his trade value.
After an eventful weekend of rumors and rumblings surrounding Shumpert and the Knicks, let’s round up a few Monday morning leftovers….
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News noted in yesterday’s piece that reports have linked the Knicks to the Kings, adding that Jason Thompson is represented by the same agency as many Knicks players. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks have indeed inquired with the Kings on Thompson.
- The Knicks’ proposal to the Celtics for Rondo would have included both Shumpert and Stoudemire, reports Ian Begley of ESPN New York. However, such a deal probably wouldn’t work for either side — Boston isn’t eager to move Rondo, while New York would prefer not to take back contracts like Wallace’s and Lee’s, since that would affect the Knicks’ ability to create significant cap room in the summer of 2015.
- According to Begley, the Knicks believed they had a trade completed with the Nuggets for Faried last Tuesday morning, but the deal fell through when Denver requested at least one draft pick from New York.
- Isola’s latest column for the Daily News focuses on Mike Woodson, whose “hands are tied” when it comes to some basketball decisions, according to one Knicks player. Minutes restrictions for Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin are being dictated by James Dolan and Knicks medical director Lisa Callahan rather than Woodson, says Isola, who adds that the coach isn’t in “imminent danger” of losing his job.
- While the Knicks are highly motivated to make a trade in the short term, most NBA teams aren’t interested in dealing until at least December 15th, when offseason signees become trade-eligible, writes Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.
Knicks Notes: Shumpert, Rondo, Celtics, Asik
Earlier today, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported that Knicks guard Iman Shumpert received a second offseason knee surgery that was kept under wraps from fans and others in basketball. The Knicks have chatted with the Nuggets about a possible deal involving Kenneth Faried and, as Isola reported, called the Celtics about Rajon Rondo, but today’s developments don’t bode well for his trade value. Here’s more on Shump and the Knicks..
- Right now, the Celtics have every intention of keeping Rondo and seeing if they can build around him, sources tell Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That’s not surprising to hear as that has been the C’s public position ever since the club traded away Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
- If the Knicks want to try their luck with the Rockets and center Omer Asik, they might not get far. The club’s lack of draft picks (they can’t trade a first rounder or an unencumbered second-round pick before 2018) will be too much of an obstacle in a potential deal, tweets Chris Mannix of NBC Sports. “When dealing with Boston and Houston, it’s all about picks,” a rival exec told Mannix.
- While the C’s aren’t moving Rondo, they would take back Amar’e Stoudemire in a deal where they could unload the longer deals of Gerald Wallace and/or Courtney Lee, tweets Broussard.
- Marc Berman of the New York Post (Twitter link) hears that Shumpert’s surgery went down in mid-to-late August and was so minor that the guard didn’t even need to use crutches.
- The timing of Shumpert’s left knee surgery annoyed some people in the Knicks organization, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Adam Zagoria of SNY (Twitter link) notes that the offseason surgeries of Shumpert and Stoudemire were kept quiet by the Knicks and first reported by Isola, with whom the club is famously hostile.
Knicks Tried To Trade For Rajon Rondo
Knicks guard Iman Shumpert has been in trade rumors for the last few weeks and it doesn’t sound like they’ll be slowing down anytime soon. New York has desperately been trying to package Shumpert in a number of deals, including one pitch to the Celtics for star guard Rajon Rondo, writes Frank Isola of the Daily News. Unsurprisingly, the Knicks were rebuffed by Danny Ainge.
Isola also reports that Shumpert had a second knee surgery over the summer that was previously kept under the rug. It’s unclear if that development has had any impact on the 23-year-old’s trade value.
As for the Rondo offer, the Celtics are highly unlikely to part with one of the top point guards in the league and even less likely to move him to a divisional rival. The Knicks also pitched the Nuggets on a swap involving Kenneth Faried and got turned down, but the Kings are also said to have interest. Isola notes that Kings forward Jason Thompson is represented by Leon Rose, the agent for Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Chris Smith.
Over two seasons-and-change in New York, Shumpert owns career averages of 8.3 PPG with 3.3 RPG in 26.3 minutes per contest.
Atlantic Rumors: Celtics, Woodson, Raptors
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were a star trio for the Celtics well into their 30s, but Allen believes their longevity made it tough for the C’s to decide when to turn their focus toward the future, as Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe passes along amid his weekly roundup.
“The bad thing probably for the team was that we played so long. Being able to stay healthy and still be able to contribute and play at a high level,” Allen said. “The team at some point had to decide while we’re good and the players still have worth, we’ve got to try and still do something moving forward and build for our next 10 years.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Knicks fans chanted “Fire Woodson” at Madison Square Garden last night, but coach Mike Woodson‘s job appears to be safe, says Marc Stein of ESPN.com, who nonetheless cautions that owner James Dolan’s decision-making is difficult to predict (Twitter links).
- Happy Walters, the agent for Iman Shumpert and Amar’e Stoudemire, took to Twitter on Saturday to give Woodson a vote of confidence (hat tip to Marc Berman of the New York Post). Walters called for an end to chatter about potential Shumpert trades and Stoudemire’s minutes restriction, and said the Knicks coach deserves some slack amid injuries to Tyson Chandler and others.
- Doug Smith of the Toronto Star answers readers questions and writes that the pressure to take the hometown guy would more or less force the Raptors to draft Andrew Wiggins if he’s available when they’re picking.
Odds & Ends: Heat, Smith, Akognon, Selby
In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel if Rockets big man Omer Asik might be a fit for the Heat. A suggested swap of Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony for Asik wouldn’t work because Haslem can’t stretch the floor like Houston wants out of their power forward and even though Anthony could be a competent backup for Dwight Howard, the Rockets can do a lot better overall. More Saturday afternoon links from around the Association..
- Knicks coach Mike Woodson made his dissatisfaction with J.R. Smith over his latest Twitter trouble known to everyone, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. “Eventually, no team is going to want to deal with you,” said the coach.
- Chinese team Qingdao waived Josh Selby to make room for yesterday’s signing of Josh Akognon, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The former NBA and D-League player lasted just two games in China. Selby came to the Cavs as a part of the three-for-one deal last year that sent Marreese Speights to Cleveland.
- Akognon will make significantly more money with Qingdao than if he had signed with one of the several NBA teams that showed recent interest, writes Shams Charania of RealGM. With Qingdao, Akognon’s season will be complete and have him available to NBA teams by early February. Three NBA teams had been interested in him and would be more inclined to sign him near the trade deadline, a source said.
- The value of Pacers forward Danny Granger next summer hinges largely on what he does this season, but he has yet to get back on the court. Pacers coach Frank Vogel doesn’t sound sure of when the 30-year-old might return. “We know he’s going to be out for a while with his calf,” Vogel said, according to Michael Pointer of the Indianapolis Star. “We want to get him back as soon as possible, but we’re not going to rush it. There’s no need to rush it.”
- David West never seriously considered leaving the Pacers even though many felt that he could have gotten a larger payday than the three-year, $36MM deal he signed with Indiana, writes Moke Hamilton of HoopsWorld.
- In this week’s maibag, a reader proposes to Sam Smith of NBA.com that the Bulls use Luol Deng to pry Eric Gordon from the Pelicans. While New Orleans would like to move one of their ball-handling guards for a small forward, Chicago can’t afford to take on the risk of taking on the Indiana product given his sizable contract and attitude problems.
- Wolves forward Corey Brewer had nothing but positive things to say about Denver after facing his former Nuggets teammates, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. Brewer signed a three-year, $14.1MM deal with Minnesota this summer.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Shumpert, Kidd, Smith
The Nets can’t take anything for granted given the way they’ve been playing so far this year, so they must be happy to have gotten a 100-98 overtime win over the Suns last night. Joe Johnson had a rough evening overall, shooting just 6-of-19 from the floor, but he hit the big shots when they counted. The two-guard’s floater towards the end of regulation sent the game into OT and his teardrop at the final buzzer gave the Nets the W. Here’s more out of the Atlantic..
- The heated exchange between Iman Shumpert and Knicks coach Mike Woodson during Thursday night’s loss to Houston adds another layer of intrigue to the trade rumors swirling around the guard, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. After the loss to Houston, Shumpert said there’s “nothing I can do about it’’ regarding trade talk and said he’s trying to “limit the distractions.’’
- On ESPN’s TrueHoop TV, David Thorpe blasted Nets head coach Jason Kidd, calling him the worst coach in the NBA. “He gets an F. He gets a 0. My wife could coach a team to a 29th ranking for that team. She doesn’t know much about basketball,” Thorpe said.
- Guard J.R. Smith, who will become even more crucial for the Knicks if Shumpert is moved for a forward, was hit with a $25K fine for his threat towards Brandon Jennings via Twitter, writes Berman. As Berman notes, this is far from Smith’s first incident to catch the attention of the league office. The guard inked a new three-year, ~$18MM deal with New York this past summer.