An off-camera conversation could lead to more frustration for Knicks fans.
During a break in an interview with new Rockets center Dwight Howard, ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith mentioned how Knicks owner James Dolan wanted to trade third-year guard Iman Shumpert because he was hesitant to play in the team’s Summer League games in Vegas.
“And by the way, [James] Dolan was ready to trade [Shumpert] because he didn’t want to work out in the summer league,” Smith told Howard.
“Dolan’s talking about trading him. I said, ‘Trade who? You better hold on to that boy. You better not lose Iman Shumpert.’ That boy can play.”
The clip didn’t air on ESPN, but a user named Azaz from the Knicks Fan Blog found it on YouTube and Deadspin posted it on their site.
Shumpert is seen as many as a key to this season. He finished last year strong after struggling early while returning from a torn ACL. The 23-year-old is one of the few young talents the Knicks have on a veteran-laden team.
How much truth there is to this is unknown. Smith never reported it as a story for ESPN and has not commented on the story since the video came out.
Shumpert said all the right things, but he missed the first two practices and only played in one Summer League game with the Knicks saying they were interested in watching his ball-handling skills. Shumpert was one of the more experienced players in Vegas for a league usually devoted to rookies and castoffs.
If the Knicks do opt to trade Shumpert, the Rockets might be interested.
Howard’s response to Smith was, “He can come here.”