SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Iman Shumpert said he will join the Knicks for Sunday’s practice on a limited basis when the club returns from its West Coast trip, but is not ready to be cleared for contact — the final step to his long-awaited return.
Shumpert declined to pick a target date because he said it hinges on how his knee responds to his first contact scrimmage. And Shumpert said Raymond Felton’s pinkie fracture will not speed up the process as he inches closer to his season debut following surgery last spring to repair a torn ACL.
“It’s not going to change anything,’’ Shumpert told The Post. “Felton has nothing to do with my knee. My knee is my knee.’’
Friday is exactly eight months since he tore his ACL in Miami in Game 1 of the playoffs. The Knicks set a six-to-eight month timetable for his return.
Shumpert has said he and his flattop should return in January, but he won’t beat Amar’e Stoudemire, expected back Jan. 1 vs. Portland and who will scrimmage with the Knicks for the first time Sunday.
“I’m starting to do conditioning and non-contact stuff with the team,’’ Shumpert said. “I’m going to start a little bit more with them when we get back. Then it’s up to the trainers.’’
Shumpert practiced on a limited basis with the Knicks’ D-League team, Erie, when it was in town last week. The key, once Shumpert is cleared for contact, is to watch for swelling around the knee. Shumpert is the lone young Knick building block after a First Team All-Rookie campaign. Mike Woodson said on Christmas he is “desperately’’ awaiting Shumpert’s return.
* J.R. Smith, whose initials were spelled out on The Post’s backpage as “J.ust R.idiculous’’ after his 20-foot buzzerbeater Wednesday in Phoenix, is amidst his career year, partly because he has defended frenetically. To go along with his second buzzer-beater this month off an inbounds with one second left, Smith had five steals in Phoenix and has hustled more this season than in his first eight combined.
“I’m trying to get the hand on the ball more than anything and get loose balls,’’ said Smith, who also committed a flagrant foul in upending Goran Dragic on a fastbreak. Smith said he could play some point guard in Felton’s absence.
“If that’s what the game calls for,’’ Smith said. “When Melo [Carmelo Anthony comes back, I’ll be more playmaker. I’m up for the challenge.’’
* The Knicks have listed Anthony, who is second among forwards in the most recent All-Star voting, as questionable for Friday night’s game against the Kings after he missed Wednesday’s game with a hyperextended left knee.
Anthony injured his knee on Christmas Day in Los Angeles when Marcus Camby fell on it. Woodson said Anthony wouldn’t undergo further tests, indicating the injury wasn’t serious, but gave no time frame for his return.
Anthony could be saving himself for Jan. 1 and Stoudemire’s season debut. It was the fifth game the MVP candidate has missed this season and the Knicks are 3-2 in those games