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The Knicks keep Iman Shumpert’s second knee surgery under wraps last summer.
Iman Shumpert had a second left knee operation over the summer, the Daily News has learned and it is unclear if the unreported surgery could impact his trade value with the desperate Knicks trying to package Shumpert in a number of proposed deals including one for Boston’s Rajon Rondo.
According to a source, Shumpert had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last July that the Knicks never reported. In September, the Daily News reported that Amar’e Stoudemire had knee surgery over the summer which the Knicks also elected not to make public.
Shumpert originally tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee against the Miami Heat during Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Shumpert didn’t return until Jan. 17, 2013 and has experienced soreness on several occasions, including the Knicks second round playoff series against Indiana. In October, Mike Woodson cryptically said that Shumpert “battled this summer with some of his injuries” and added that Shumpert did experience knee pain but left it at that.
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Except for missing a few days of training camp due to what the Knicks claim was a shoulder injury, Shumpert has been available for all nine games this season but has clearly fallen out of favor with Garden Chairman James Dolan and head coach Mike Woodson.
The Daily News reported last Wednesday the Knicks were trying to work a deal with the Denver Nuggets that would include Shumpert and Denver power forward Kenneth Faried. There are also reports of the Knicks talking to the Sacramento Kings about a deal for Shumpert. Coincidentally, Kings forward Jason Thompson is represented by Leon Rose, the agent for Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Chris Smith.
Jason DeCrow/AP
Iman Shumpert (r.) has fallen out of favor with Knicks coach Mike Woodson this season.
Of course, the Knicks primary target is Rondo, Boston’s All Star point guard who is currently recovering from knee surgery. The Knicks have been trying to trade Shumpert, Raymond Felton and Amar’e Stoudemire in a complicated deal for Rondo but the rebuilding Celtics has yet to show much interest.
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Unless the Celtics are blown away with an offer it’s hard to imagine Celtics GM Danny Ainge trading his best player, Rondo, to the rival Knicks. When Isiah Thomas was in charge of the Knicks he tried for months to acquire Kevin Garnett from Minnesota only to have then Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale trade Garnett to Ainge, McHale’s former Celtics teammate.
A similar scenario could unfold in the coming weeks and months with the Rockets amenable to trading unhappy back-up center Omer Asik. Houston could enhance its championship credentials by adding Rondo to a lineup that includes Dwight Howard, James Harden and Chandler Parsons. In return, the Celtics may have interest in both the 7-foot Asik and Jeremy Lin, the point guard and Harvard graduate. McHale is now Houston’s head coach and Rockets GM Daryl Morey started his career in the Celtics front office.
The general feeling around the league is that Shumpert will be traded sooner than later, especially with Smith now starting and the Knicks looking to develop first round pick Tim Hardaway Jr. The Knicks are off to a 3-6 start and Dolan is growing impatient by the hour.
It’s no secret that the Knicks want to deal Stoudemire, whose bloated contract doesn’t expire until after next season. Felton’s value has never been lower with the point guard underperforming this season. Felton has been playing with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, three rotation players – Shumpert, Stoudemire and Smith – all had knee surgery last July. Smith said in September that he elected to have surgery once he signed his contract extension.