The New York Knicks are again reportedly trying to trade Iman Shumpert for Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried. New York is hopeful a deal will be completed before the NBA trade deadline, ESPN reports.
Although discussions in November of trading Shumpert for Faried ultimately stalled, New York is reportedly trying to push a similar deal on the Nuggets ahead of the Feb. 20 trade deadline.
"Hearing that Knicks are trying again to re-engage Denver and sell Nuggets on idea of trade built around Shumpert-for-Faried before deadline," ESPN's Marc Stein tweeted on Tuesday.
Shumpert has been rumored to be on the trade block for most of the season, and a report on Tuesday from Grantland's Zach Lowe indicated Denver is still open to trading Faried if the right offer presents itself.
"I've been hearing since the fall that Kenneth Faried is available at the right price, and sources across the league maintain that remains true as we approach the deadline," Lowe wrote on Tuesday.
Building a competitive roster around Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is paramount to New York having a shot to re-sign Anthony in the summer. With Anthony concerned only with winning a championship and both the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls reportedly preparing to pursue him in free agency, Knicks owner James Dolan is likely to try to make a move before the deadline.
Despite the Knicks' 20-31 record, the team is only two games out from the eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
Denver, meanwhile, may already be looking ahead to next season. Injuries to JaVale McGee, Nate Robinson and Danilo Gallinari make getting back into contention for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference even more difficult. If Denver (24-26) is indeed looking ahead to the draft, they'd likely want a first-round pick in exchange for Faried.
The biggest hindrance to any trade involving the Knicks is their lack of tradable first-round draft picks - New York doesn't have another first-rounder until 2018.
