Report: Knicks, Pacers Have Discussed J.R. Smith-Chris Copeland Trade
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Does Phil Jackson have something up his sleeve?
According to the New York Post, the Knicks have had talks with the Pacers about sending J.R. Smith to Indiana for Chris Copeland.
Copeland, a 6-foot-8 small forward, played for the Knicks in 2012-13 before signing a two-year, $6 million contract with the Pacers in July of 2013. He'll be a free agent at the end of the season.
Smith is owed $6.4 million in 2015-16, though he will have the opportunity to opt out and become a free agent.
The Knicks' shooting guard said on multiple occasions during the preseason that he was struggling to adjust to the triangle offense. Through three games for the 'Bockers, he's averaging 8.0 points, 4.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 24.7 minutes. He's shooting 40 percent from the field and 28 percent from three-point range.
A deal isn't expected to be imminent. According to the newspaper, Jackson doesn't intend to make a move until December 15.
"He might be one of those guys that's a little bit like Dennis Rodman, that has an outlier kind of side to him," Jackson told the New York Post in regard to Smith before training camp. "But I'm going to get to know him as we go along, and we'll find a way to either make him a very useful player in our organization, or whatever."
Copeland is off to a fast start for the Pacers this season. In three games he's averaging 16.0 points, 2.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 30.3 minutes.
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