New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith reportedly is the most likely to be traded from the team before the February deadline. As the Knicks are off to their worst start ever, ESPN's Chris Broussard reported there's turmoil in the locker room and a lack of faith in the triangle offense.
If somebody is going to go this season, Smith reportedly is most likely the one.
"With free agents who signed before Sept. 16 becoming available for trade Dec. 15, the Knicks could look to make roster changes soon - with sources saying J.R. Smith is the player they'd most like to trade," Broussard wrote Wednesday.
Smith has been the subject of trade rumors since last season, but none of the rumors ever appeared close to coming to fruition. Smith's $5.9 million salary this season and his $6.3 million player option next season - along with his history of immature behavior and his decline in production on the court - make him a hard sell to teams.
Two teams linked to him earlier in the season, though, were the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.
Broussard's report also contained another interesting tidbit: there's turmoil in the locker room, and there's a general disdain for the triangle offense among the players.
Broussard pointed to the verbal altercation between Carmelo Anthony and Tim Hardaway Jr. on Dec. 2 as evidence, and he said players had privately approached Anthony with complaints about how he takes too many shots and doesn't consistently play defense.
The bigger issue, however, reportedly is the players' disenchantment with Jackson's triangle offense.
"In addition to the Knicks' lack of chemistry, sources say the players believe coach Derek Fisher's insistence on running the triangle offense is another key reason for New York's struggles," Broussard wrote. "... One thing Anthony and his teammates do agree on is their disdain for the triangle offense, sources said. For weeks, if not longer, the players have been ready to ditch the triangle and move on to another system."
Jackson admitted on Monday there was "some resistance" to the culture change, which likely includes his implantation of the triangle offense. As for trades, he said the team is not actively looking to make deals unless one comes along that can help them build for the future.
He also said addition by subtraction is an option.
