Chris Paul to NY: Knicks 2011 NBA Draft Pick Iman Shumpert May Mean Trade Likely

Very few saw it coming.

After a day where most thought Kemba Walker would slip to the number 17 spot, the Knicks draft selection surprised all of New York.

After a three-team deal between the Bucks, Bobcats and Kings went down, Walker was officially out of the running.

So what were the Knicks to focus on?

The answer was obvious.

Except that it wasn't.

Instead of going for size or best player available caliber, the Knicks drafted Iman Shumpert out of Georgia Tech. Almost everyone expected them to select either Chris Singleton out of FSU or Kenneth Faried, and go for size and rebounding.

But the Knicks chose another point guard for their arsenal.

While many New York fans may be disappointed at the Knicks selection, it is important to look at it from a different angle.

The Knicks may maintain that they plan to form quite a rotation between Chauncey Billups, Toney Douglas and Landry Fields in the back court, but this may not be entirely true.

While the aforementioned may be the short term plan, this draft pick could have had everything to do with bringing Chris Paul to the Knicks.

How exactly?

Shumpert is slightly a taller version of Toney Douglas. He is lights out on the defensive end like Douglas, and can score effectively, though not nearly as well as Douglas.

This past season, Shumpert averaged 17.3 points, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game. He only strays away from Douglas' credentials in his perimeter shooting, which can be seen through his abysmal three point shooting. He shot just over 27 percent from beyond the arc.

However, the striking similarities between the two cannot be denied and points toward one thing: New York has a measuring stick of who they would have to give up in a trade for Paul.

Yes, other teams have more to offer than the Knicks, but if Paul truly wants to be in New York, the Hornets will have to deal with whatever the Knicks have to offer.

And Shumpert means the Hornets are interested in Douglas.

Obviously Billups' expiring contract would be a part of any deal for Paul, which means the Knicks would be giving away two point guards, leaving a void at the position, even when Paul arrives.  

So the Knicks plan may be to groom Shumpert as Paul's backup.

Another possibility is that the Knicks drafted someone similar to Douglas because they know he interests the Hornets and they want to attempt to woo New Orleans with a younger version of him. This is not as likely, but still feasible.

Yet one more theory is that the Knicks drafted arguably the best point guard available to give the Hornets an array of guards to choose from to help fill the void Paul will leave.

Many believed that Shumpert was a second round guard, but he impressed the Knicks with his ability to shut down Jimmer Fredette. This is the type of ability the Knicks need to add to their backcourt, and Shumpert could prove useful if his transition to the NBA goes smoothly.

However, the Knicks selection of Shumpert could be purely motivated by Paul, which should not disappoint fans by any means.

Remember that this is why you suffered through nearly a decade of disappointment.

This is why you applauded when Carmelo Anthony came to New York, even though it meant parting ways with almost the entire young core of players the Knicks had assembled.

This is why Donnie Walsh left the organization.

For the past year, the Knicks have been completely committed to assembling their own "big three," specifically by adding Paul.

And despite initial reactions, we will come to see that the Knicks selection of Shumpert only further proves that New York's charted course has not changed.