GREENBURGH, N.Y. — J.R. Smith will add depth to the Knicks backcourt, but won’t immediately replace Landry Fields as the team’s starting shooting guard.
“Obviously, he’s a talented basketball player and you can always use talent but basically it’s not going to change up a whole lot what we’re doing,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said Friday after shootaround.
Asked if Fields would continue to start once Smith arrives, D’Antoni said, “Yeah, for right now, for sure.”
Smith, 25, is close to signing with the Knicks but it is not a done deal yet, league sources told SNY.tv Friday morning.
Smith Tweeted Friday morning, “New York Knicks It Is!”
He is not expected to play tonight against the New Orleans Hornets.
It appears the Knicks released Renaldo Balkman Friday, apparently to create roster space.
“New york was great love da big apple #imout,” Balkman Tweeted.
The Knicks have the prorated $2.5 million exception to give to Smith, a New Jersey native and former St. Benedict’s Prep star who recently scored 60 points in a Chinese League game, hitting 14 of 18 3-pointers.
When Smith does join the Knicks, the team will have to release somebody from among the group of Bill Walker, Toney Douglas, Mike Bibby and Renaldo Balkman.
They are also expecting to get rookie Josh Harrellson (fractured wrist) back after the All-Star break and point guard Baron Davis (herniated disc) hopes to eventually be healthy enough to contribute. When he does, he will likely backup Jeremy Lin.
“[Depth] won’t be an issue because we’re getting Baron back,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll get him, we’ll get Josh back. We’ll have guy sitting all over the place, so no, it won’t be a problem. The depth will be really good.”
