Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler return today from Houston, and Rasheed Wallace returns from oblivion.
The Knicks reconvene for the first time since the All-Star break, with their defensive power forward expected to participate in practice for the first time since suffering a stress reaction in his left foot in mid-December.
Wallace will not be ready to play tomorrow in Indiana, and how long he’s able to stay healthy is anyone’s guess. In the best-case scenario, he becomes the final piece to the Knicks’ championship push. If Wallace suffers a setback and breaks his foot, the Knicks could cut him and sign a free-agent forward, such as Kenyon Martin or Lou Amundson.
Wallace’s uncertainty presents Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald with impetus to trade for another big man by Thursday’s deadline, even though center Marcus Camby (plantar faciitis) is also expected back very soon.
“Rasheed likes the situation in New York, likes the team, thinks they can win and wants to make whatever contribution he can make,’’ his agent, Bill Strickland, told The Post. “He wants to contribute and feels he can on the floor or even off the floor. Even if he’s not dressing, he feels he can make a contribution with leadership and his championship experience. That’s why he’s been traveling with them.’’
Losing their defensive moxie, the Knicks have been a pedestrian 15-13 since Wallace went down. The medical staff rested him this long to make sure his condition doesn’t turn into a season-ending stress fracture.
There have been a lot of false alarms regarding Wallace’s return. Coach Mike Woodson thought Wallace would be back Jan. 1, and there was a report the Knicks didn’t think Wallace would ever heal, which Wallace flatly denied.
“He has every intention to get back to the floor, playing,’’ Strickland said. “If that doesn’t become possible, he still feels he can be a positive factor in the locker room with veteran leadership.’’
* With his biceps injury behind him with a 26-point, 12-rebound All-Star night Sunday, Anthony can’t wait to get back in a Knicks uniform. “New York basketball has been down for so long,’’ Anthony said in Houston. “There’s been so much talk about the New York Knicks over the past eight-to-10 years. So for New York to be back where it’s at, the energy in New York is back … , the fans are engaged in what’s going on … and definitely proud to say that they’re fans of the New York Knicks. For us as a team, to be the cause of that, we want to keep that going.”
* Ex-Knick Charles Oakley took another shot at Knicks brass for not hiring Patrick Ewing as an assistant coach this past offseason. “You play 15-plus years in New York,’’ Oakley said on 560 WQAM Radio in Florida, “and you get a guy like LaSalle Thompson, LJ [Larry Johnson]. These guys shouldn’t get a job before Patrick, not in New York. I don’t know what’s going on with New York.’’ Ewing, looking for a job after his Orlando stint, sat next to owner James Dolan at last Wednesday’s Knicks game against the Raptors.
Additional reporting
by Fred Kerber.