Knicks Trade Rumors: New York’s Iman Shumpert On His Way To Phoenix Suns? Jared Dudley, Sebastian Telfair Up For Grabs?

The New York Knicks are learning that when you’re on top, teams will throw plenty of offers your way.

Currently second in the Eastern Conference and making a charge for first, the Knicks have been approached by the Phoenix Suns regarding second-year guard Iman Shumpert, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports late Saturday.

The Suns are reportedly willing to give up three-point threat Jared Dudley, and hope to use Shumpert to improve their backcourt. The report states the Suns regretted not selecting the Georgia Tech product in the 2011 Draft, and see him as a fresh, solid foundation.

However, the Knicks are not interested. Shumpert just returned from a knee injury back in mid-January and has played limited minutes. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and head coach Mike Woodson has slowly worked Shumpert back into to the rotation, averaging 18.9 minutes, but starting the past 11 games.

During his rookie season, Shumpert was already considered one of the top perimeter defenders in the league, and at 22-years-old he is far and away the youngest Knick by five years. New York is the oldest team not only this season, but in NBA history. After Shumpert, the Knicks have very few capable defenders along the perimeter, and will have to consider who will check the likes of Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Indiana’s Paul George come playoff time. Shumpert is also a steal with two years and $4.5 million left on his rookie contract.

Dudley could only bolster New York’s fifth-best three-point percentage, as he’s a career 40.6 percent from the beyond the arc. However, he is owed more than $12 million over the next three seasons, and the Knicks are already in danger of paying a hefty payroll tax in the coming seasons.

The Suns are also shopping guard Sebastian Telfair, according to Yahoo!, and his $1.5 million expiring contract could interest some playoff teams searching for point guard depth at a cheaper rate.