Now that the Knicks’ Steve Novak Era has begun, will there be a K-Mart in the club’s future?
Last night, the Knicks claimed 6-foot-10 reserve shooting forward Steve Novak off waivers on the same day Kenyon Martin’s contract was bought out by his Chinese team, Xinjiang.
Martin, according to his agent, Andy Miller, is flying back to the U.S. for Christmas, but he is ineligible to play until after his team’s season in the Chinese Basketball Association is over — likely in mid-March.
A source familiar with the Knicks’ thinking said it is “possible” the Knicks would have interest in signing Martin later in the season if they need a jolt up front and they will pocket their $2.5 million exception. A source said the 33-year-old former Nets star would be amenable to joining the Knicks.
Another Chinese league player of interest also would be ex-Knick Wilson Chandler, who still is playing in Asia and also wouldn’t be eligible until March. Multiple sources said Chandler would love a return to the Knicks, who reluctantly traded him to Denver in the Carmelo Anthony deal last February.
“I don’ think anything stands out now,” coach Mike D’Antoni said before the Knicks’ 88-82 win over the Nets in last night’s preseason finale at the Garden. “I think we’re good everywhere. Maybe three weeks from now I’ll have a better answer for you. If you can better the roster, [interim general manager] Glen [Grunwald] will do that. But we’re no desperate to do something. We’re not.”
For now they have Novak, who will make the minimum for a player of his service — roughly $1.1 million. The Knicks claimed him off waivers instead of letting him clear just in case another team such as Miami had the urge. Novak was at the Garden last night but did not dress.
“He’s a shooter and spreads the floor, it’s obvious something we could need,” D’Antoni said. “You can’t have too many shooters.”
Novak, 26, has been strictly a low-end reserve during his five seasons but has a 41 percent 3-point career shooting percentage — which always attracts D’Antoni’s attention because his up-tempo offense creates a lot of open shots from the 3-point line.
“It’s a great fit,” agent Mark Bartlestein told The Post. “Mike puts a premium on shooters and he’s one of the best 3-point shooting big men in the league.”
The 6-foot-10, 240-pounder out of Marquette has averaged four points and 9.7 minutes in a career 225 games. He has played for the Houston, Clippers, Dallas and Spurs. He was the 32nd overall pick in the draft in 2006, selected by the Rockets.
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Bill Walker, who has missed most of training camp with a hamstring strain, may return to practice tomorrow but won’t be ready for Sunday’s opener vs. Celtics. . . . Jared Jeffries sat out last night with a calf strain but is expected to be available Sunday. … Baron Davis was in uniform last night and sat on the bench. The Post has reported — despite dire prognostications he could miss two months — Davis could make his Knicks debut in January as he rehabs his herniated disks.
Sources said they believe the medical staff can get Davis back up in a month.
“Every day is a little better,” Davis told The Post last night. “I’m in good hands.”