Can there be a happy Knicks return for Shawne Williams?
According to his agent, Happy Walters, Williams will work out for the Knicks in the coming days, and a source said the workout will be Monday. The Knicks are trying to add more scoring pop to the roster at the small-forward position now that Carmelo Anthony is viewed as their power forward.
Williams, despite baggage that included multiple arrests on drug charges, prospered at the Garden in his lone season in 2010-11, when he was a threat as a 3-point shooter and an excellent defender. He likely will be available for the veteran minimum of $1.4 million.
The Knicks were disappointed Williams didn’t re-sign with the team after the 2010-11 season and jumped to the Nets.
But Williams had a lousy stint there, playing one injury-wracked season before being traded to the Trail Blazers. Williams didn’t play last season because of a foot surgery. But Hoopsworld.com reported last week Williams looked terrific in workouts at IMG Academy in Las Vegas.
Williams is friends with Amar’e Stoudemire, also represented by Walters.
“Shawne loved his time there,’’ Walters told The Post. “He’ll be the first to tell you. But it is also about where he’d get playing time.’’
The Williams camp is concerned because the Knicks found a budding young sniper in forward Chris Copeland. But he’s a free agent, and the Knicks may be unable to re-sign him because they would have to dip into their $3.1 million mini mid-level exception.
The Knicks also are competing against Mike D’Antoni’s Lakers, the Clippers and Bulls. D’Antoni, who coached Williams as a Knick, wants him back and also has scheduled a workout for him.