The New York Knicks were able to trade who?!?! That’s right sports fans, someone voluntarily took on J.R. Smith. In a three-team, six-player trade, the Knicks traded Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In turn, the Cavaliers traded Dion Waiters to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson, and a 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks. The Thunder will send Lance Thomas to the Knicks along with a protected 2015 first-round pick to the Cavs. This trade took place just before tip-off of last night’s games, so none of these players suited up for their respective teams. The Knicks also waived Samuel Dalembert which will clear $3.8 million of cap space.
This is a good trade for all three teams. The Thunder added a solid scorer in Waiters for a first-round pick and a throw-in player, making the Thunder a good team who just got better. The Cavs got two rotation players for the price of one, so as long as Lebron James can corral J.R. Smith, this trade will help the Cavs this season. And the lowly Knicks continued to clear cap space, including $6.4 million owed to J.R. Smith, in hopes to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The best part of this deal, by a mile, is that the Knicks were able to rid themselves of the cancer that is J.R. Smith. Some people believe that the Knicks gave Shumpert away for nothing, but he is hurt, again, and probably wouldn’t have been re-signed following this season anyway. The Knicks now have only 4 players under contract for next season in Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Cleanthony early.
Just when you thought the 76ers knew how to tank, the Knicks are going to show them a thing or two. Following last night’s loss, the Knicks have now lost 12 straight games, tying a franchise record. The Knicks have the worst record in the league at 5-32, and there is no doubt they are en route to the #1 overall pick in the draft. Now this may be wishful thinking, but I think Phil Jackson planned on tanking this season all along. He obviously would never admit it, but I’d bet the polygraph would side with me on this one. He traded Tyson Chandler just so he could rid himself of Raymond Felton’s contract, and last night he did the same with Shumpert and Smith. He will certainly be waiving the three bench players he just acquired, so he doesn’t have to pay them. And now he is left with a pile of cash in hand, and his reputation, in hopes to attract a group of free agents who will bring winning ways back to the Big Apple.
Do you still believe in Phil?? Or have you lost faith in the Zen Master?? Let me know in the comment section below.
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Dave Talks Sports 