* Yahoo! first reported Saturday that the Suns have engaged in talks about acquiring Knicks guard Iman Shumpert, who they considered taking in the 2011 draft when they picked Markieff Morris at No. 13 and Shumpert went to the Knicks at No. 17.
That interest is real and so is the consideration of trading Jared Dudley in such a deal before the Feb. 21 deadline.
The Suns will be reluctant to part with any of their first-round picks and would need to know more about the health of Shumpert’s left knee, which put him from late April until mid-January due to an ACL tear. Shumpert also suffered from left knee tendinitis and a right knee sprain earlier last season, when he fulfilled the Suns’ projections of being a terrific perimeter defender. The Suns have invested greatly at point guard with the signing of Goran Dragic, arguably their best player, and drafting Kendall Marshall but could see Shumpert as an off-guard with his 6-foot-5, 220-pound size. Plus, Dragic has shown he also can play off the ball.
Shumpert, 22, has been a 39 percent career shooter but has made 12 of 28 3-pointers since returning this season in a reserve role.