The Knicks have a logjam at the shooting guard position, and they haven't been shy about the fact that they're probably going to trade one.
It now seems that J.R. Smith - not Iman Shumpert - is the guy New York is trying to get rid of.
According to a report from the New York Post, the Knicks tried to ship him to Indiana for Chris Copeland, who played for New York in 2012-13.
Copeland in the last year of his two-year, $6 million contract he signed with the Pacers after leaving New York, meaning he won't count against the salary cap in 2015. Smith has a $6.4 million player option for next season if he decides to put off being a free agent until 2016, when the salary cap is expected to rise drastically.
New York is looking to clear as much cap space as possible for free agency this coming offseason in the hopes of adding another superstar (or two) to their roster.
However, Knicks president Phil Jackson has no plans to make any deals until December 15, which is the earliest date that 2014 draft picks and free-agent signees can be traded. Once that date comes, look for Smith to be on the move.
Copeland is averaging 16 points and 4.7 rebounds per game through the first three games of the season in 30 minutes a game. Smith is averaging 8 points and 4 assists a game while playing just under 25 minutes a game.
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