After shipping Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics recently, the Cleveland Cavaliers are now working to trade shooting guard Iman Shumpert. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Shumpert asked for a trade early in the summer but his request went unnoticed due to the Kyrie Irving situation. Shams Charania of The Vertical contradicted McMenamin’s claim, saying Shumpert did not make a trade request. Charania confirmed reports that the Cavaliers have been actively shopping Shumper this offseson. McMenamin added that the Cavaliers also discussed shipping Shumpert to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets but talks fell apart.
Recently, the Cavaliers shipped Irving to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Net’s unprotected 2018 first-round draft pick. On July 7, Irving approached team owner Dan Gilbert and demanded a trade, saying he wants to become the focal point of a team’s offense and wants to play away from LeBron James’ shadow. Currently, Shumpert is the Cavaliers’ third-ranked shooting guard, behind J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver, who recently signed a fresh three-year deal worth $22 million to stay in Cleveland. Last season, the Cavaliers occasionally used Shumpert at point guard but with the entry of playmakers Derrick Rose and Jose Calderon, he is expected to see his minutes reduced.
Last season, he played an average of 25.5 minutes per game.
Shumpert in third season of four-year deal
A 17th overall pick by the New York Knicks in 2011, Shumpert averaged 7.5 points in 76 games last season, making 36 percent of his attempts from three-point range. He is entering the third season of a four-year, $40 million contract he signed with the Cavaliers in 2015.
The 27-year-old Shumpert is set to earn $10.3 million in next season and has a player option worth $11 million in 2018-19.
Cavs acquired Shumpert from Knicks
In his first season with the Knicks, Shumpert played 59 games, with 35 starts, averaging 9.5 points and 3.2 boards in 28.9 minutes per outing. The next season, he made 45 starts for the Knicks but his production and minutes dipped to 6.8 points in 22.1 minutes per game.
During the 2013-14 season, he played 74 games, with 58 starts, tallying 6.7 points per game. He played 24 games for the Knicks during the 2014-15 season before he was included in a three-team trade involving the Knicks, Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 370 career games, Shumpert has averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per outing.
