The Knicks’ chances of landing free-agent shooting guard Shannon Brown are just about over. Mark Bartelstein, Brown’s agent, told The Post the Lakers guard is “leaning” toward returning to the Lakers to go for a “three-peat.”
Brown is expected to make his final decision today.
The Knicks, according to a source, offered Brown just a one-year contract as they moved to protect their 2011 salary cap for a run at Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks offered him the full $2.7 million that they are under the cap. The Lakers have offered the fourth-year guard less per season, but multiple years.
“The Knicks did a great job selling Shannon on everything and their vision for him,” Bartelstein said. “They did a great job, but the chance to go back and win a third championship for the Lakers is a tough thing to pass up. He’ll make a final decision [today].”
The Knicks were leaning toward making the super-athletic Brown their starting shooting guard, but also saw him as a solid sixth man.
Brown averaged 8.1 points in 20 minutes for the Lakers off the bench. The Knicks have been impressed by Wilson Chandler’s summer recovery from ankle and hernia surgery and is the favorite to start at shooting guard, though he is on the trading block.
The Knicks’ decision to offer Brown just a one-year deal stems from their belief in Anthony passing up a Nuggets’ contract extension. Denver’s front-office shakeup in which popular general manager Mark Warkentien was dismissed could make Anthony pause on wanting to remain in Denver.
Warkentien would be a candidate to join the Knicks’ front office, but team president Donnie Walsh reiterated yesterday that he is not focusing on adding a general manager. Warkentien interviewed last summer for the Knicks’ vacant GM job that still has not been filled.
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Coach Mike D’Antoni, speaking one day after deciding not to attend Turkey with Team USA for the World Championships because of back woes, told The Post he fully intends to be an assistant next summer and for the 2012 Olympics.
D’Antoni said he has had a disc problem for two years, and it got worse in Las Vegas during summer league and Team USA training camp. “I need to get it straight,” said D’Antoni, who will start a rehab program. “To keep going like this, I wouldn’t be able to be 100 percent for the season. I love being part of Team USA, but I need to take the time to get it right. My schedule has been crazy.”
If Team USA makes the gold-medal game, the team wouldn’t be back until Sept. 14. The team leaves for Europe for exhibitions on Aug. 16.
D’Antoni said he expects Knicks players to start reporting after Labor Day for voluntary workouts. The Knicks training camp starts early — Sept. 25 — because of their Italy-France trip.