Iman “Dumpert” Shumpert doesn’t exactly fit into the Kings’ long term plans, given that he’s a.) too old (28) and b.) under contract for just this season. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he got traded at the deadline, just because overpaid players on the last years of their deals tend to get traded at that time for reasons that are impossible for me to understand. Something about “expiring contracts”. I don’t know what that is but I do know that thinking about it makes my brain want to expire.
Even though there’s probably not a future for Shumpert in Sactown, it’s nice that he gets to have a role on this team. It would be too easy to give the ol’ Zach Randolph treatment, perma-benching him in order to get Buddy Hield and Justin Jackson 40 MPG each. Now Shumpert can rehabilitate his image a bit after a string of uninspiring seasons in Cleveland, and if the Kings make the playoffs with Shumpert still on the team, a lot of GM’s will take notice of the guy who can be a cheap, but maybe better, Robert Covington.