There have been rumors and gossip and trade reports for the Knicks, as there always are when the NBA schedule gets to within a slingshot toss of the trade deadline.
So while there has been speculation of the Knicks making a move by the 3 p.m. deadline on Feb. 21, coach Mike Woodson and players yesterday said they like the current roster and don’t think the Knicks should feel compelled to trade.
“I think so,” Woodson responded when asked if the Knicks have the necessary pieces. “I feel good about the makeup of our ballclub. We just haven’t had a full deck. When we were semi-full going through our early stretches, we were a pretty good ballclub. We’ve just got to rethink some things, get back mentally focused on what’s at hand and come back ready for the final push.”
Players echoed those sentiments.
“I don’t think we need any changes or anything,” J.R. Smith said. “It looks like we’ve got all the pieces to the puzzle. It’s just a matter of us consistently going out there and doing it every night.”
Amar’e Stoudemire also noted the rash of injuries and stressed, “We’re confident in the guys we have. … We just want the team to improve and keep building as a team and make a push toward the playoffs.”
* Tyson Chandler only did the conditioning part of yesterday’s rigid practice because of a sore right ankle. No worries, Woodson said. The coach insisted Chandler would play against the Raptors tonight at the Garden.
“He didn’t hurt it, but it was a little sore,” Woodson said of Chandler.
* Smith is predicting a “clean sweep” by the Knicks at All-Star weekend.
“We’re going to win it all: 3-point contest, dunk contest, Melo’s going to be MVP,” Smith claimed, showing confidence and support for Steve Novak in the shooting competition, James White in the dunk affair and All-Star Game starter Carmelo Anthony in the main event. “It’s going to be a great weekend for New York.”
Smith was asked how his mates should celebrate.
“They don’t want to hear mine,” Smith said. “My celebration is different than everybody else’s, so I’m just going to say, ‘ Just wear the Knicks jersey, tweet about it and have fun all weekend.’ ”
* And what would winning the dunk contest mean to White?
“More money in my pocket,” White said.
Have ball, will dunk for cash.