NBA

Slighted Shawne spurns Knicks for Nets

If the Knicks did not flirt with Jamal Crawford last weekend and offered Shawne Williams their $2.5 million room exception on Saturday, he would be in orange and blue instead of in Newark, according to an NBA source.

Crawford spurned the Knicks Wednesday and Williams did so yesterday, choosing the Nets over the Knicks, whose bench now looks suspect.

Another Knicks target, Mo Evans, re-signed with Washington, leaving the Knicks to explore signing Michael Redd (who is coming off two straight ACL tears) and reserve power forward Troy Murphy. Forward James Posey just cleared amnesty waivers.

The Nets outbid the Knicks for Williams and offered him a bigger role, possibly starting small forward. Williams, 25, a close friend of Amar’e Stoudemire, felt slighted by the Knicks in recent days as they waited on Crawford’s decision (Portland). They made Williams wait as he worked out in Manhattan.

“The Knicks kind of [jerked] him around the past five days,” one person familiar with the situation said. “It was about respect, opportunity, minutes.

It wasn’t until the Knicks’ long-shot bid for Crawford ended that they offered Williams their $2.5 million exception in a two-year, $5 million deal. The Nets topped the Knicks’ offer as they are still under the salary cap, offering a two-year, $6 million contract with an opt-out after the first year. It beat the Knicks by $1 million.

Agent Happy Walters said Williams debated taking less money from the Knicks because he loved playing there last season.

“Shawne made a decision on what’s best for him and his family”Stoudemire said. “We’ll be all right. We have a solid team with what we have now. We’re comfortable with our roster. He’s not too far away, we’ll see him shortly.”

The Knicks and Nets meet in their preseason openers tomorrow in Newark. Coach Mike DâAntoni said Williams should not feel disrespected.

“Well, he got an offer, he just didn’t get an offer he wanted,” D’Antoni said. “It’s business. We couldn’t do anything until we got Tyson [Chandler] because that takes up your cap room. For a long time, we couldn’t do anything. We love Shawne. He’lll have a great career.”

A Knicks source said the club may go on with what they have, even though swingman Bill Walker, a key bench guy, has missed three straight practices with a groin strain. The Knicks can use either a backup wing or backup power forward.

Carmelo Anthony said the club doesn’t need another bench piece. Rookie combo guard Iman Shumpert’s emergence is one reason.

“We’re solid, man,” Anthony said. “If we do what we got to do, we’ll be on one of the teams to beat in the East.”

****The Knicks finally announced the signing of 7-foot center Jerome Jordan, their 2010 second-round pick, and he participated in his first practice yesterday, showing a knack in the low post. Jordan had to wait until his Slovenian buyout was executed and working papers to be issued.

Jordan is from Kingston, Jamaica — birthplace of Patrick Ewing.

“When I got over here, I thought I’d play right away but I had to wait a couple of days,” Jordan said. “I rebound, block shots and it’s defense-first. I can mix it up scoring-wise. I do a little bit of everything.”

Anthony on the Chris Paul trade finally being approved by commissioner David Stern to the Clippers: “I’m proud of him. They got a great team, a solid roster. It’s just a matter of them putting it all together.”

MSG Network will televise today’s Knicks practice.