Coach Mike Woodson has time to decide if out-of-shape Rasheed Wallace can help the Knicks before owner James Dolan is on the hook for the entire $1.3 million veteran’s minimum.
According to a person familiar with the situation, Wallace’s contract won’t be guaranteed in full until Jan. 5. Wallace signed a traditional non-guaranteed, make-good pact that has no addendums, The Post has learned.
Under the CBA, standard non-guaranteed contracts signed for training camp mandate the pact has to be guaranteed in full by Jan. 5. Additions can be made in certain instances to have the contract guaranteed if the player makes the team. That didn’t happen with Wallace.
So the risk is less and ramifications huge. It allows Woodson latitude in giving Wallace time to prove himself. He still has not been cleared to practice, let alone scrimmage, as he works on the side on his conditioning. Wallace is expected to miss the entire preseason schedule.
If Woodson decides to use one of his 15 roster spots on Wallace, he can cut him after the season’s first two weeks and the club is on the hook for the small pro-rated portion of $1.3 million.
If Woodson uses the final two spots on a youngsters Mychel Thompson and Chris Copeland, he would cut Wallace by Oct. 31. Wallace then would only be paid training-camp money — $2,000 a week or $8,000 — not the prorated portion of his $1.3 million NBA contract.
Woodson hinted Wallace could practice for the first time Tuesday after the team’s three-game road trip.
“He’ll definitely be reevaluated after the road trip just to see where he is,’’ Woodson said. “And there’s a chance he can go next week based on my conversations with the doctor.’’
* While starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer made his practice debut as a Knick yesterday, J.R. Smith sat out and wore a boot on his left foot. Smith sat out Saturday’s exhibition game in Hartford with what the Knicks called a sore ankle, but Smith told The Post it is his Achilles.
Smith had returned to practice Tuesday, but Woodson said he needs more rest. Brewer, meanwhile, was held out of scrimmage but will today and could play on the road trip.
“I was a little overanxious,’’ said Brewer, who had knee surgery on his meniscus in early September. “I thought I was going to be able to do the full practice. They wanted me to be cautious and take it slowly.’’
* During a tour of Garden’s upper-bowl transformation, the Knicks said official capacity this season will be down about 1,000 seats from the 19,763. Next season, capacity will jump back to normal.