Good day. The NBA trade deadline is at 3 PM EST today. The Knicks have yet to make a trade. Let's catch up on where things stand rumor-wise this morning:
1. The Knicks-Clippers deal that seemed to be gaining steam Wednesday afternoon seemed to be losing steam Wednesday night, even before the key to such a deal, Iman Shumpert, went down with a sprained knee:
Proposed NYK-Clippers deal involving Shumpert, Felton for Collison "not happening," per source. Don't know if it will be revived before Thu.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) February 20, 2014
A person closely involved in Knicks-Clippers trade talks still does not see deal happening in current form.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 20, 2014
Adrian Wojnarowski reported after the game that Shumpert is headed back to New York for tests on a sprained MCL, and that talks between the Knicks and Clippers had ended. Chris Broussard said otherwise, but I think that's because he corresponds with sources via carrier slug and didn't hear the initial rumors until nighttime.
2. Beno Udrih is just sitting around waiting to get traded. Last we heard, it kinda sounded like teams hoping to make a playoff push were competing for Beno's love!
Also hearing Wiz not ready to surrender longstanding interest in Udrih and still hopes to convince NYK to send him to DC instead of Denver
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 20, 2014
The Nuggets are reportedly offering Jordan Hamilton. The Wizards could offer someone like Glen Rice Jr. or Garrett Temple or the terrifyingly exact-matching salary of Al Harrington. If the Knicks are smart, they should pit the teams competing for Beno's services against each other until they can get a second-rounder. Or a first-rounder. Or JOHN WALL COME ON NOW WIZARDS DO YOU WANT BENO OR NOT.
3. There is this lying around, presumably via David Aldridge and not the district attorney:
D.A. said the Knicks inquired about acquiring Norris Cole.
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) February 20, 2014
But that's just an inquiry. And a weird one. That's it. The only real rumors have been Shump-centric or Beno-centric. The former may have waned for good, the latter should probably come to fruition by 3 PM. Updates to come!
Update (12:14 PM):
If Beno Udrih is traded to Denver chances are Jordan Hamilton goes to Knicks. If it's Washington, Knicks likely get Chris Singleton.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) February 20, 2014
If it's Singleton, the Knicks would have to include more salary to reach a match. Cole Aldrich would make that trade work. I'd prefer a second-rounder to Chris Singleton. I'd also prefer Jordan Hamilton.
Update (12:44 PM):
Sources say Nuggets now proceeding w/acquisition of Beno Udrih from Knicks for Jordan Hamilton. Why DEN needed third team for Eric Maynor
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 20, 2014
I'll make up a new post if this becomes more solid.
Update (1:12 PM): Chris Broussard, but...
Lots riding on Shumpert MRI: in addition to possibly going to LAC, source says possible he goes to OKC for 1st round pick. If mcl not torn!
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 20, 2014
Never mind. I'm ignoring Broussard from now on.
Hearing Shump to Okc, even if mcl not torn, " not likely." Source says teams talked last night b4 Shump went down— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 20, 2014
Update (1:41 PM): Okay, so there goes that:
Denver Nuggets forward Jordan Hamilton has been traded to the Houston Rockets, league source tells RealGM.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 20, 2014
Update (2:04 PM):
For Beno Udrih, Jordan Hamilton-Nuggets had been lone discussion still on table for Knicks, source tells RealGM. Clear long shot now.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 20, 2014
Update (2:41 PM) Details of Shump's MCL sprain prognosis are leaking, which is ominous, and now there's this. I think something's happening.
Hearing that Clippers now in one last huddle on whether to say yea or nea on deal with Knicks for Iman Shumpert as deadline draws near
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 20, 2014
Update (2:52 PM)
Knicks & Clippers, I'm told, have re-ignited serious discussions late this afternoon on deal headlined Shumpert/Collison. Talks as we speak
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 20, 2014