With Amar’e Stoudemire dealing with his latest injury, the Knicks are in the market for another big man. (NBAE/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – With uncertainty surrounding the returns of power forwards Amar’e Stoudemire and Rasheed Wallace, Mike Woodson admitted he and GM Glen Grunwald may open up a roster spot and sign a big man after the West Coast trip.
Stoudemire had his right-knee debridement surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery yesterday and was listed as out “approximately six weeks.’’
Signing a player could mean releasing Wallace, one of Woodson’s favorites. Wallace actually is making the five-game West Coast trip, still on crutches and in a boot on his surgically repaired right foot.
Woodson admitted nothing is set in stone on Stoudemire’s playoff availability. Stoudemire returned after 8 weeks when he had left-knee debridement surgery but that was to clean out a ruptured cyst. This is believed to have cleaned out loose cartilage.
There is an 8-week timetable for Wallace, who underwent foot surgery nearly two weeks ago and is an even bigger longshot to return.
“That’s true,’’ Woodson said of the notion Stoudemire and Wallace as no locks to be back for the playoffs. “That’s a strong possibility. When we come off this trip, Glen and I will start assessing that closer.’’
Stoudemire, who claims he has Jewish roots and follows some customs, tweeted a photo yesterday of himself posing in front of the hospital with several fans, some in yarmulkes. “Thanks for the support. Great to build with a “minyan” of men. Stay tuned for the recovery.”
Asked why Wallace made the trip, Woodson said, “He’s here for moral support and we can keep our eyes on him and can go through therapy here. That’s the only reason he’s with us – (that) hopefully he can be back soon, but he’s got to go through the process.’’
The Knicks are limited in whom they can sign. Any player waived after March 1st can’t be signed for the playoff roster. That could lead to a signing of a D-League big man and the Knicks could waive another player. Elder statesmen Kenyon Martin, who has played just three games after sitting out all season, and Marcus Camby, battling plantar fasciitis, are no locks to remain healthy either.
“We have to be careful there too,’’ Woodson said of Martin. “It’s a long season and I don’t want to start subtracting bigs from the team. We have enough bigs but we have to make sure we keep them around as we go up the road so we have them in the playoffs.
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J.R. Smith visited with Knicks orthopedist Dr. Allen Answorth before Saturday’s Utah game and is battling a sore knee but playing through it.
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Ex-Knick David Lee is on the verge of his first playoff berth. Sources say Lee was very disappointed in the summer of 2010 when the Knicks let him go in a sign-and-trade to sign Stoudemire. Lee, an All-Star last month, sat out the Warriors’ loss Saturday vs. Milwaukee with a knee swelling but returned vs. the Knicks last night. “If I can walk, I’m going to play,’’ Lee said beforehand. The double-double machine entered the season playing with teams – mostly the Knicks – who had a combined 199-359 record. Lee is averaging 18.9 points on 51.5 percent shooting with 11.1 rebounds.