New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert appears poised for a breakout season. The 24-year-old, who's been busy studying the triangle offense, could play his way off the trade block and make a case for another season in New York.
One Knicks executive reportedly told another team's executive last season that Shumpert's numbers were down only because he wasn't being played correctly in former coach Mike Woodson's offense. With Knicks president Phil Jackson implementing his famous triangle offense, Shumpert could flourish and put up career numbers.
Per Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy:
"I think the Knicks will do well with the triangle offense, but it's probably going to take time for everyone to learn it and play to their full potential in the new system. I think it will really help Carmelo Anthony, as you said, and others should do well too. And if they don't, then Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher can find pieces who will work next to Anthony in the triangle going forward. ...
"I know a lot of the players have been trying their best to learn the system. For example, Iman Shumpert spent the past few months reading all of Jackson's books and trying to learn and read up on the triangle."
Shumpert said as much in August, when he predicted he would have a lot more opportunities in the triangle offense to make an impact in the game.
"The way it's set up, you can start three guards, it really doesn't matter. Everybody's going to get touches, everybody gets opportunities to cut," Shumpert said, via ESPN. "It's constant action going on. So I think that I'll be able to capitalize on that and I'll be able to use my athleticism a lot more than standing in the corner (like in Woodson's offense).
"I know this year in the offense I will have a lot more opportunities to cut and get to the basket," he added. "I just want to work on the strength of my leg. Been working on that and being able to pull up off one or two dribbles (and working) on corner (3-pointers) and open 3s."
Shumpert is a lockdown defender, but he's not a high-volume scorer. Jackson's offense would likely give Shumpert (6.7 ppg last season) better looks, which could help turn him into a double-digit scorer.
He's constantly been the subject of numerous trade rumors. Set to become a restricted free agent next summer, Shumpert could have a huge season that takes him off the trade block and gives him a second season to audition for Jackson.
