NBA Trade Rumors As Deadline Looms: Shumpert's Agent Denies Client Wants Out of NY, Suns and Wizards Interested In Josh Smith

With only days left until the Feb. 21 NBA trade deadline hits, Atlanta Hawks star Josh Smith's fate may be looking towards Phoenix.

Reports from the Detroit News Monday say that both the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns have expressed interest in acquiring the services of Smith, who becomes a free agent this summer.

Smith, who is averaging 17.4 points this season and 15.2 points for his career, has been with the Hawks since his rookie season in 2004-05. However, reports are indicating that Smith, who makes $13.2 million this year, wants a max contract, which Atlanta has been balking on. Their willingness to let former All-Star Joe Johnson defect to Brooklyn in free agency has illustrated the team's mentality of trying to get under the salary cap.

And with the new collective bargaining agreement, which will come with a higher penalty cost for teams that go over the cap, teams are hesitant to make that jump, but Phoenix doesn't appear to be scared off, and could potentially offer Marcin Gortat, the Suns' 6'11" center who averages 11.3 points this season.

However, reports from Yahoo! Sports are suggesting that the Washington Wizards could be entering the sweepstakes for Smith, while there are a number of other suitors who have inquired to Atlanta about his services, including Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Boston and Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, in New York, Iman Shumpert's name has been surfacing in potential trade scenarios lately, with reports having surfaced that the defensive standout's agents are unhappy with the way that Shumpert has been handled on the Knicks as of late and want him out of New York.

Sheridan Hoops.com reports that sources with knowledge of the situation say that Shumpert's people have "major concerns" regarding how the team is handling him as of late. They reportedly feel that Shumpert, a natural small forward, is being played out of position and is struggling as a result, leading to the belief that Shumpert should be moved soon.

However, Shumpert's agent, Happy Walters, denied the reports in several tweets.

"For the record, no one has requested an Iman trade from the Knicks. The report from Chris Sheridan is incorrect," Walters tweeted, while adding in another that he was never contacted to confirm whether or not those rumors were accurate.

The Knicks have been aware of the rumors surrounding Shumpert, who starts in the three-guard rotation for the Knicks. That has prompted Knicks star Carmelo Anthony to publicly declare that he does not want Shumpert traded, while Knicks coach Mike Woodson told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith last week that he expected his sophomore guard to still be part of the team after the trade deadline.