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New York Knicks Trade Analysis From Swap With Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers

ByKenneth Teape|

New York Knicks Trade Analysis: Check out our breakdown of the three-team trade between the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

TheNew York Knicksroster shakeup is underway, as theycompleted a three-team dealinvolving the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder. In total there were six players and two draft picks exchanged between the three teams. The pieces involved give a clear indication of what direction each of the teams are moving in, as the Knicks are in full rebuilding mode, while the Thunder and Cavaliers are in win-now mode, believing they are contenders.

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Here are the pieces on the move:

New York Knicks trade SGIman Shumpertand SGJ.R. Smithto Cleveland and waiveSamuel Dalembert.

Cleveland Cavaliers trade CAlex Kirk, FLouis Amundson, 2019 2nd round pick to Knicks; trade SGDion Waitersto Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder Trade: FLance Thomasto Knicks; Protected Future 1st Round Pick to Cavaliers.

As you can see, there are plenty of moving parts here. As for the Knicks, it is pretty clear what their intentions were in this one. For starters, it shows they didn’t have any real interest in re-signing Shumpert this offseason, instead focusing on gaining as much salary cap space as they possibly can; in other words, this move was strictly a salary dump.

To rid themselves of the $6.4 million that is owed toJ.R. Smithfor next season, they had to move sweeten the deal and add Shumpert in. Shumpert is the player the Cavaliers wanted, but the Knicks were not going to move him without attaching a piece they no longer wanted.

For this season alone, the Knicks will save over $20 million in salary and luxury taxes by trading Shumpert and Smith and releasing the non-guaranteed contract of Dalembert’s. The three players they received, Thomas, Kirk and Amundson, all have non-guarantee contracts as well, and will be free agents before Saturday when all non-guaranteed contracts become guaranteed.

This is more than likely the first of many moves the Knicks will make leading up to the February 19th trade deadline. Until then, they will more than likely fill their roster out with younger players from the D-League, with two popular options being Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Langston Galloway. The rest of the season will be a chance for younger players to showcase their talents as the remainder of the 2014-2015 season will be an extended tryouts for anyone playing on the Knicks.

Early rumors when news first broke was that the Knicks were going to receive Thunder GReggie Jackson, but those talks deteriorated once the Thunder began pushing for a draft pick in return. Rightfully so, the Knicks resisted adding a draft pick, instead just taking the salary relief; if they really are truly interested in bringing Jackson aboard, they can do it in the offseason when he is a free agent without surrendering a future draft pick, which is a very good asset for a team to have that is in the position the Knicks are.

So essentially the Knicks moved two serviceable players for hope and optimism again, much like when they purged their roster in 2009, trading the likes ofJamal CrawfordandZach Randolphfor a chance at signingLeBron Jamesin the summer. Yes the Knicks are 5-32 after their loss to the Memphis Grizzlies tonight, but in Shumpert and Smith the Knicks knew what they have; now the Knicks are going in blind hoping to have a better turnout than in 2010.

The difference this time is that the Knicks have a draft pick as well to go with all their cap space, as this trade will leave them with nearly $30 million in money to spend, along with two trade exceptions they received for Shumpert and Smith. You would hopePhil Jacksonhas a plan A, B and C in place, as Knicks fans know as well as anyone that things do not always go as you hope.

Next: New York Knicks' 2015 New Year's Resolutions

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