NEW YORK — The Knicks still have the $2.5 million “room” exception to use and could opt to save it for one of the players currently stuck in China.
That group includes former Knick forward Wilson Chandler, as well as shooting guard J.R. Smith and power forward Kenyon Martin.
“Glen’s going to evaluate everything that needs to be done,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, referring to interim GM Glen Grunwald, said Wednesday before his team beat the Nets, 88-82, at MSG.
Martin, the former Net, severed ties with his Chinese team, Xinjiang, according to Yahoo! Sports. But both he and Smith, the former St. Benedict’s Prep star, cannot play in the NBA until March when the Chinese season ends.
The Knicks dealt Chandler to the Denver Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony trade last February and he would add another scoring threat to D’Antoni’s offense. Yet because he’s a restricted free agent, the Nuggets are expected to match any offer another team makes.
In a separate development Thursday, the Knick waived Devin Green and Chris Hunter to make room on the roster for shooter Steve Novak. The roster now stands at 14 players.
