The New York Knicks’ decision to trade JR Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014-15 season remains a pivotal moment in the franchise’s recent history. On a recent episode of Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, 7 PM in Brooklyn, the former Knicks star shared his raw reaction to the controversial trade, providing new insights into the emotional fallout of that decision.
Carmelo’s Immediate Reaction
Anthony revealed that the trade felt like a personal betrayal by the Knicks’ front office, especially given the immediate competitive advantage it handed to his close friend, LeBron James, in Cleveland.
“I told Bron, ‘oh, that’s what we’re doing?’” Anthony recalled, describing his frustration. “When it happened, the only thing going through my mind is Bron. I know this is a chess game… I can use Shump and JR to go win a championship. That’s why I flipped out in the locker room.”
According to Anthony, the Knicks’ move undermined the team’s foundation and sent a clear message about the organization’s priorities.
Shumpert’s Perspective
Iman Shumpert, a guest on the episode, painted a vivid picture of the scene in the locker room after the trade.
“In that room, all you hear is just boom, boom, water splashing,” Shumpert said, describing Anthony’s visceral reaction.
Anthony admitted to feeling blindsided and powerless.
“You do not touch this nucleus right here. I don’t give a f*** what you do,” Anthony recounted. “Do you know what the f*** y’all just did? You’re going to send them to him?… Y’all don’t give a f*** about me. This s*** is nasty. This put them over the top.”
Immediate Impact
The trade proved advantageous for Cleveland, as Smith and Shumpert became integral to the Cavaliers’ playoff run. They played critical roles in the team’s Eastern Conference dominance before injuries hindered Cleveland’s efforts in the 2015 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Just a year later, both players contributed to Cleveland’s historic championship victory in 2016.
Legacy of the Trade
For the Knicks, the move symbolized the end of their competitive aspirations during the Carmelo Anthony era. While the trade helped the Cavaliers secure a championship-caliber roster, it also deepened the Knicks’ struggles and solidified the perception of the franchise as directionless during that period.
Today, with the Knicks on a steady upswing and sitting at 10-7 in the 2024-25 season, fans and analysts can reflect on moments like this as reminders of how far the team has come since those tumultuous years. However, for Anthony and others who lived through it, the sting of that decision still lingers.