New York Knicks' guard Iman Shumpert has been involved in trade rumors for as long as he's been with the team. While the Knicks don't seem poised to move Shumpert before the regular season kicks off this week (for once), the 24-year-old's time in New York could still be limited.
The Knicks have until Friday to reach an extension agreement with Shumpert as his rookie-scale contract begins to come to an end. Several 2011 first-round picks are in similar limbo situations with their teams as they await contract extensions. If the two sides are unable to come to terms on a new contract, Shumpert, and others without new deals, would become restricted free agents after this season. As of right now, it doesn't appear as if Shumpert and New York are working on an extension.
Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com laid out a convincing argument for why Shumpert could be hooping for a new team in the 2015-2016 NBA season.
"According to league sources with knowledge of the dynamic between the Knicks and Shumpert, there has been no conversation yet about a possible extension," Begley writes. "Unless the Knicks change course before Friday's deadline, the lack of an extension makes it likely that this will be Shumpert's last season with the Knicks... If the Knicks don't extend Shumpert, he will be able to hit the market this summer as a restricted free agent. As one of the better young perimeter defenders in the league, Shumpert should draw interest in free agency."
"If he has a strong season with the Knicks, that interest -- and the market for his services -- will only increase. The Knicks are unlikely to match any significant contract offers for Shumpert this summer. They want to preserve cap space for the summer of 2015 and 2016, when they hope to land a free agent to pair alongside Carmelo Anthony. Matching an offer for Shumpert, of course, would eat into that cap space. The guess here is that they'd rather keep their options open then commit money to Shumpert."
Shumpert averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 74 games last season.
