GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s good to be J.R. Smith’s brother.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson said point guard Chris Smith is “still in the mix” for a roster spot, noting for the first time the coach’s relationship with J.R. is a factor in the franchise potentially wanting to further develop the younger Smith.
For his part, Chris Smith, who played at Louisville before tearing up his knee at training camp last October, said if he is kept on the 15-man roster, he likely will spend much of the season with the Knicks’ D-League affiliate in Erie, Pa.
Smith did not play for the second straight game, as the Knicks dropped a 105-95 decision to the Bucks at Green Bay’s Resch Center.
“He’s still in the mix,’’ Woodson said. “That’s something else we have to sit and talk about [Thursday] in terms of the direction we want to go.’’
Woodson regards J.R. Smith as the son he has never had and owner James Dolan loves him too. Chris Smith’s chances, meanwhile, also increased when rookie C.J. Leslie struggled this preseason.
Combo guard Tour’e Murry has outplayed Smith in preseason but a source indicated his status should not be affected by Smith’s.
Woodson said J.R.’s presence carries a lot of weight as to whether the Knicks keep his brother.
“Sure, it does,” Woodson said. “I look at him just like I look at J.R., though J.R. is the guy who played in a uniform and has been very productive for us. I have a great deal of respect for that family. That’s his brother. I respect that. We’ve got to make some decisions. What those decisions will be, I don’t know.’’
Chris Smith has a unique element to his non-guaranteed deal. If he’s on the roster opening night, the deal is fully guaranteed. Most minimum deals don’t become fully guaranteed until the early-January deadline. So in effect, the Knicks can keep Smith and cut him at any time if they want the roster spot for a freed-up big man. Smith still gets his money.
Woodson said the Knicks will make their first cuts Thursday night after practice. They have 20 players and have to get down to 15.
Last spring, Chris Smith fired his agent, Marc Cornstein, in favor of CAA’s Leon Rose, who represents J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony. The Post reported the maneuver was seen by some league sources as “a package deal’’ with J.R. Smith becoming a free agent. One agent said Wednesday if Chris Smith is kept, it should come under NBA scrutiny as a “package deal.’’
Woodson is set to meet Thursday with new president/general manager Steve Mills, assistant GM Allan Houston and owner James Dolan, who believes in making the superagency CAA happy because it’s good for the franchise in the long run.
“Right now it’s still up in the air,’’ Smith said. “I’m just competing for a spot. I’ve shown my work ethic and pretty much an ability to come back from injuries.’’
If Smith sticks, the Knicks likely still would keep Murry, who has been the superior player. But to do so, they would have to cut all three big men they invited to camp on non-guaranteed deals — Ike Diogu, Josh Powell and Cole Aldrich. Woodson reiterated he is set on keeping injured 6-foot-10 Jeremy Tyler.
Mills is in a strange situation, because he wasn’t involved in compiling the roster, which was built by Glen Grunwald, now an adviser. Grunwald won’t be at the meeting.
“We’ll all sit down and give our opinions and we’ll come up with the right decision,’’ Woodson said. “It’s got to be a group decision. Steve will announce it, but he’ll hear my voice as well as the scouts and everyone involved and Mr. Dolan.’’
Mills, since taking over for Grunwald four days before training camp, hasn’t missed a practice or game, which isn’t uncommon for the preseason. Interestingly, Mills also has sat in on every coaches’ meeting.
“It’s OK, learn about your product,’’ Woodson said. “Learn about what’s going on inside your organization. Come to practice and skull sessions. I don’t have [anything] to hide. I think it’s OK if Steve wants to hang around and watch what’s going on. I think it’s healthy.’’