The rumor earlier in the season, albeit a crazy one, was that the Lakers called the Knicks on the availability of Iman Shumpert and Tyson Chandler. The Knicks were only interested if they could unload J.R. Smith’s atrocious contract in the process, which no team was biting on.
The only way this happens is if, over the next week and a half, something drastic happens to either New York’s playoff chances or their roster. If they’re looking for cap relief, this is the deal they’d want, which could help sway Melo to stay in New York.
CHANCES OF TRADE HAPPENING: 20%. Nothing short of a Melo injury or the entire front office being fired will cause the Knicks to abandon hope in this season.