NBA: Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks

Apr 16, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire (1) during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

(Jim O'Connor)

Although the Sixers are not in on any of the big name free agents like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony right now, that does not mean they are not major players in the outcome of this free agency period.

Why? Because with roughly $30 million in cap space, the Sixers can help any team land the free agent they want -- and it sounds like the Knicks are calling.

Speaking on First Take, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said the Knicks and Sixers have had conversations about a deal that would send Amare Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert to the Philadelphia. Although what the Sixers would send back isn't clear, it likely wouldn't be much more than a draft pick or non-guaranteed contract player, as the Knicks would do the deal to clear cap space.

The move would clear roughly $25 million in cap space for the Knicks, and would potentially allow them to chase another prime free agent. Although losing Shumpert would be a loss for the Knicks, it would likely be worth it to rid themselves of Stoudemire's contract.

For the Sixers, however, you would have to wonder if taking up the majority of their cap space -- even for just this season -- would be worth it to land Shumpert.

Although he has good size -- 6-foot-5, 220 pounds -- and is a good defender, Shumpert averaged just 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds last season. Those were career lows, and Shumpert has seen his production drop in each of his three seasons in the league.

Combine that with the fact that the Knicks have no first-round draft pick to trade, and the likelihood of the Sixers making their one move with all of this cap space be for Shumpert are slim.

Smith did not make it sound like the talks were serious, but it does fit in with the general feeling around the league -- that the Sixers could end up getting some serious assets in return for helping a team that is trying to clear space.

Follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks