Knicks would offer Shumpert in sign-and-trade for Steve Nash
Originally published: Jul 4, 2012 - 12:07 pm
They chose Morris and Shumpert went to the Knicks four picks later, but that may not have been the end of the story.
With Steve Nash appearing all but ready to leave the Valley as a free agent and the Knicks trying to come up with the cap space to match Toronto's offer to the point guard, rumors of a sign-and-trade deal are swirling. And, one guy the Knicks would offer to entice the Suns to deal is, in fact, Shumpert.
NY package would include Iman Shumpert, Toney Douglas and likely 3 low money players to get Nash salary needed to close gap on Toronto offer
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 4, 2012
In other words, the deal would be Shumpert, who the Suns likely still have interest in, and filler. And when we say "filler," we mean "nothing of any real value."
But the key to the deal would be, of course, the former Georgia Tech guard.
The 22-year-old averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 assists 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game as a rookie, but had his season cut short when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs.
At 6-foot-5 with excellent leaping ability (assuming he returns to form from the injury), Shumpert would certainly be a nice piece to have going forward for a rebuilding team.
But alas, this entire possibility -- from the Knicks possible offer to the Suns having interest -- very much hinges on the idea of Nash preferring to go to the Big Apple. Should he be content to head to Toronto this will all be moot, as the Raptors can sign the two-time MVP to a big contract without needing the Suns' help.
There is also a report that Nash wants his ex-wife to move their children to whatever city he chooses to play for.
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