Feb 19, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New York Knicks shooting guard Iman Shumpert (21) and New Orleans Pelicans center Greg Stiemsma (34) battle for a rebound during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Knicks weren’t dangling anyone of their roster more than they were Iman Shumpert. Everyone knew he was on the trading block, and the Knicks looked motivated to deal the third-year guard.
However, less than 24 hours before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, it appears that Shumpert has all but eliminated himself from getting traded. Possibly.
Shumpert left Wednesday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans with a sprained left knee. It’s the same knee that he sustained a torn ACL in his rookie season. Though, early indications are that it’s not another ACL injury.
The Knicks said Shumpert will leave the team and travel back to New York to be re-evaluated. The Knicks have two games left on a four-game road trip.
Though, the bigger issue is the trade deadline. Will teams still effort to make a deal for Shumpert even though the injury is somewhat of an uncertainty right now? Again, early indications are that it’s not serious, but the fact that he couldn’t walk off the court under his own power, after the injury, isn’t a good sign.
Even if it’s just a sprain, the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time.