NBA Trade Rumors 2013: New York Knicks’ Iman Shumpert Could Be Traded to Denver Nuggets for Kenneth Faried

Are Iman Shumpert's days numbered in New York? The New York Knicks were expected to be one of the busiest teams in the trade market in the 2013-14 NBA Season, and if Frank Isola of New York Daily News is correct, the Knicks may already be jumping into the trade game by putting the versatile guard on the block soon with the return of streak-shooting guard JR Smith.

Shumpert, who averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in the team's first five games this season, is expected to have a lesser role with the return of Smith, who was suspended for the Knicks' first five games this season.

In Smith's first game back from suspension, Shumpert played for only 22 minutes, tallying just three points and three rebounds.

"The rest of the league seems to value Iman more than the Knicks do. And his value is high," an unidentified rival executive told the Daily News. 

Isola discussed the possibility of trading Shumpert to the Boston Celtics for injured point guard Rajon Rondo, but a deal could be hard to reach since the Knicks have no attractive draft picks to offer to the rebuilding Celtics.

"Including Shumpert in a deal for Rajon Rondo is something Mike Woodson would sign up for immediately but it's also pure fantasy. Ask yourself, why would the Boston Celtics trade their best player to a hated rival that doesn't have first-round picks to trade?" wrote Isola. 

According to Isola, one of the more plausible trade partners for the Knicks is the Denver Nuggets, who are reportedly looking to trade Kenneth Faried before the deadline.

"A more plausible scenario is moving Shumpert for Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, especially when you factor in the health of Amar'e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin. Plus, the Knicks believe they have insurance in the backcourt with rookie Tim Hardaway Jr," Isola wrote.