As this year’s free agency gears continue to grind, the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers remain at the forefront of several discussions and rumors. By now, Cavs fans have been through the ringer, with talks of who the team is interested in and what pieces could be acquired to bolster the ranks. Now, just one day into the open market proceedings, Iman Shumpert‘s name has emerged as a potential trade candidate.
According to Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype, several teams around the association have engaged the Cavaliers in discussions regarding Shumpert’s availability.
As of now, there are no reports stating exactly who has called the Cavs’ front office, which is currently being ran by team owner Dan Gilbert and assistant general manager Koby Altman due to David Griffin’s departure in June.
“Shump,” as he is affectionately known, was drafted with the 17th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Known as one of the best on-ball defenders in the league, Shumpert played in 76 games (31 starts) for the Cavaliers last season, where he averaged 7.5 points on 41% shooting from the field, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 25.5 minutes per contest. The 27-year-old guard signed a four-year, $40 million contract during the 2015 offseason, which could make trade talks a bit tricky.
For now, we’ll just have to wait and see how this new development unfolds.