Celtics

The most recent rumor, reported by Chris Broussard, is a complicated deal that would send Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert to the Boston Celtics for star point guard Rajon Rondo. Perhaps the Knicks are trying to make the deal as complicated as possible in an attempt to confuse Danny Ainge. That’s probably the only way the Celtics send Rondo to New York, of all places. On talent alone, Rondo is too valuable a player to trade away in a deal centered around Shumpert.

Given the Celtics current situation it is something Ainge could think about, if just for a second. The Celtics clearly entered rebuilding mode upon dealing the remaining two thirds of the original big three to the Brooklyn Nets. In the deal, Boston acquired 1st round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018 to pair with their own picks. Right now the Celtics have three main objectives:

1) Lose as many games as they can this season
2) Acquire as many young assets as possible
3) Put themselves in the best position for the 2015 FA class (featuring Kevin Love and Marc Gasol)

A trade of Shumpert, Stoudemire and Felton for Rondo, Wallace and Lee would help to accomplish all three. Stoudemire’s max contract is only on the books until the end of next year while the deals of Wallace and Lee both run until 2016-17. The Celtics would save $16 million in the summer of 2015, getting them one step closer to Love.

In addition, the trade would make Boston a bottom 5 team in the NBA, exactly where they want to be for the 2014 draft. Its widely regarded to be the best draft since the 2003 draft headlined by Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Darko Milicic Chris Bosh. Landing in the top 5 this year all but guarantees you a franchise player. Something that would be much easier to accomplish sans Rajon Rondo.

Now imagine the Celtics adding a player such as Jabari Parker or Aaron Gordon to their stable of young talent. Post trade their core would look like this: Parker/Wiggins/Randle/Gordon, Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Iman Shumpert, Kelly Olynyk, Jared Sullinger and Marshon Brooks. With their new abundance in cap space in 2015 it would be easier to attract Kevin Love or Marc Gasol to play with a talented group of young players with their best years ahead.

This is the least likely, but most lucrative option for the Knicks. While justification can be made for the trade it is more likely the Celtics will choose to build around Rajon Rondo. It is better to have certainty of a top 20 player in the NBA than risk it on the luck of the lottery. However, if Ainge believes he can secure a top 10 player (via the draft) and Kevin Love in 2015 he might roll the dice.

Denver

In the past few weeks the most prevailing rumor has been a swap of Iman Shumpert for Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets. The deal seems to make sense for both sides. The Nuggets have depth in the front court as the Knicks do on the wing. With J.J. Hickson, Javele McGee and Timofey Mosgov the Nuggets have plenty of depth down low. Meanwhile Shumpert would serve as an immediate upgrade at SG to Randy Foye. The defensive minded Shumpert would be the perfect fit next to scorers Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari. Lawson is an electric player and is the hub of the team’s offense. However, at an undersized 5’11” he does have trouble on the defensive end. Shumpert would take pressure off Lawson by covering the opposing team’s best perimeter player.

On the flip side, Faried makes perfect sense for the Knickerbockers. We have quickly learned the hard way that the Knicks rebounding and interior defending is solely dependent on the injury-prone Tyson Chandler. Chandler is certainly overpaid at $14 million per a year, but he is invaluable to the Knicks. Without Chandler, the options become very slim in the frontcourt. Despite starting at center, the Italian seven footer has been able to haul in a putrid 5 RPG. Backing him up are the injury-prone Amare Stoudemire, who is on a strict 11 MPG restriction and has never been a good defender/rebounder anyway, and the 35-year old Kenyon Martin.

Adding Faried would be a positive both in the short-term and the long-term. For now, he would allow the Knicks to slide Anthony back to the 3 with Chandler out. He would immediately help replace the rebounding void left by Chandler in the paint. His game perfectly compliments the scoring and lack of defense provided by Bargnani. Most importantly he would take pressure off of Carmelo who has been having to rebound and defend like a power forward. Not to mention that the Knicks strength is their depth at the wing. With Melo starting at SF and Smith at SG, the Knicks would still have Ron Artest and Tim Hardaway Jr. as their backup wings.

In the long run, he would actually turn the Knicks weakness into a strength. Even with Chandler in the center, rebounding and interior and defense had always been lacking. By adding Faried, it would give the Knicks two starters who are in the top 15 of rebound rate NBA in a minimum of 20 MPG, Chandler at 11 and Faried at 15. Pair this with Anthony’s 6.9 RPG and J.R. Smith’s 5.3 RPG last year and the Knicks suddenly become a top 5 rebounding team in the NBA.

While the Nuggets have sworn against dealing the young power forward, I believe this to be more of a cat and mouse tactic. The Nuggets have been looking to gauge Faried’s trade value as the current regime does not want to commit to a large extension in 2015. The trade makes the most sense for the Knicks as they would get back a player the same age as Shumpert.

Houston

This is the third most reported, and most likely deal to occur including Iman Shumpert. Since acquiring Howard, the Rockets have all but guaranteed the trade of Omer Asik. A trade for Shumpert would make sense. We know how much Morey likes to acquire young cheap players. With Harden’s ability to make plays, Shumpert would likely be on the floor with him at the for defensive purposes, with Lin coming off the bench. Asik plays the exact same role as Howard as a rebounding, defensive center. He is probably the best veteran on the market guaranteed to move before the deadline. While Chandler is out he would provide a perfect replacement at center and allow Bargnani to slide back to the 4 with Melo at the 3.

Unfortunately, once Chandler comes back the Knicks would end up having the same issue that the Rockets have now. Asik is essentially a clone of Tyson Chandler but four years younger, less injury prone but without the leadership skills and championship experience. Technically the Knicks could play both at the same time, but their limited offensive games would clog the lane making it hard for Anthony and Smith to penetrate. Pair this potential conflict with the fact that Asik, despite making just $5 million this year, is due a balloon payment of $15 million next year which would put the Knicks deep into the luxury tax.

Although this deal is the most likely to happen, I believe it makes the least amount of sense. While Asik would provide short term relief to the Knicks rebounding and defensive woes, he would be much less valuable with the return of Chandler. With the $15 million he is due next year it would make better sense to hold onto Shumpert or look elsewhere for a trade.

Other Possible Destinations:

Sacramento

The Kings have been rumored to have interest in Shumpert despite their abundance of wings. The Kings management have decided that they will build their team around the ultra talented, but enigmatic Demarcus Cousins. In addition, they see #7 pick Ben McLemore as the building block on the perimeter. Rightfully, they are going for a full rebuild and have made all of their veterans available in exchange for young talent.

The Knicks are desperate for a floor general with the lack of productive play from Felton. Greivis Vazquez would be a great candidate to fill the role. He had a breakout year in New Orleans last year with 13.3 PPG, 9.0 APG and 4.3 RPG. Vazquez was third in the league in assists and 9th in assist to turnover ratio. At 26 years old he is entering his prime and would give the Knicks some offensive flow. The downside, and the reason the Kings would trade him, is that he is a restricted free agent at the end of the year and would likely command a multi-year deal in the range of $8-10 million per year for 4-5 years.

This is a realistic deal that would give the Knicks help they desparately need at the helm. However, it is a risk in that Vazquez has only had one very good year and would demand a long-term deal at years end. With their eye on 2015 free agency, they would be forced to possibly let Vazquez walk for nothing.

Phoenix

Similar to the Kings, the Suns are willing to trade veterans for young talent. Especially if it will help them climb the 2014 draft board. The Suns have also previously expressed interest in Shumpert when trade rumors were swirling last offseason. At any time the Knicks could have pulled the trigger and sent Shumpert to Phoenix in exchange for Steve Nash. Now the Knicks enter a similar situation where they can dish Shump to death valley in exchange for a veteran point guard. This time it comes in the form of a less accomplished, but younger and cheaper option. Goran Dragic is currently the Suns best trading chip.

Much like Vazquez, Dragic had a breakout year in 2013. Given the opportunity to start, he did not disappoint, averaging 14.7 PPG, 7.4 APG and 3.1 RPG. Not to mention he is actually one of the best financial bargains in the league, something the Knicks are not used to. He currently has two more years left on his contract with a player option for a third. His deal is for $7.5 million per year which is a steal if he can continue to improve upon his success last year. Not to mention, if he declines his player option it would give the Knicks even more flexibility for 2015.

If the Knicks are bent on trading Shumpert, a deal for Dragic would be the smartest. At 27 he is entering his prime and a financial bargain. He would bring a floor general that the Knicks desperately need to generate offense when the ball is not in Carmelo Anthony’s hands. Dragic should be their second target behind Kenneth Faried.