Knicks knee surgeries are sort of like John Turturro‘s character in Mr. Deeds: They are very sneaky.
Unlike that forgettable Adam Sandler vehicle, however, the rash of unreported surgeries can’t just be swept under the rug. The struggling Knicks reportedly are trying to trade guard Iman Shumpert, but their efforts could be more difficult due to reports that Shumpert had a “secret” knee surgery over the summer.
Shumpert, who missed all but one game in the 2012 playoffs and the first half of the 2012-13 season with a torn ACL, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July, the New York Daily News reports. The surgery was not previously reported.
This is the second time in three months that a previously unknown knee surgery for a Knicks player has come to light. The Daily News reported in September that Amare Stoudemire also had a procedure this summer that went unannounced. Stoudemire has played less than 11 minutes per game and has been held out of three of the Knicks’ nine games this season.
Shumpert’s surgery has not prevented the third-year guard from continuing to be New York’s best perimeter defender and fastest-improving player. The Georgia Tech product has upped his rebounding to a career-high 5.2 per game and is above his career marks in field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
This revelation could hurt Shumpert’s trade value, though, as the Knicks are believed to be shopping him heavily. One report has Shumpert going to Denver in exchange for Kenneth Faried, while another has him being swapped for Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.
