ORLANDO – Iman Shumpert didn’t get traded at Thursday’s deadline, but he may have lost his starting job to J.R. Smith.
With Shumpert out two weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee, Smith will start Friday in Orlando. Woodson said he’ll “welcome him back with open arms,” but added that Smith could keep the starting job if things are going smoothly.
There’s no time for protocol, Woodson said. Smith looked to have adjusted in his second game with a new protective mask in New Orleans when he scored 19 points and made 7 of 13 shots in the Knicks win over the Pelicans. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year was projected by the coaching staff as a potential starter in preseason, but it didn’t pan out and Shumpert held him off.
“There’s a possibility that could happen,’’ Woodson said. “When starters get hurt, I don’t normally scale them back because of injury, but it depends on how we’re playing. At this point, it doesn’t matter now who gets hurt, who comes back. It’s about trying to win games. If J.R. is playing well, I might not fool with the lineup.  We’ll play it by ear and see how it goes.’’
Shumpert is back in New York after Thursday’s MRI exam revealed his MCL was not torn after his knee buckled in New Orleans on a pull-up drive, leaving the Knicks fearing the worst.Â
“We thought it was going to be longer than that,’’ Woodson said. “It’s a positive.’’
It’s been a mysteriously awful season for Shumpert. The Knicks had dangled him and Raymond Felton around the league at the trade deadline, looking to upgrade the point-guard position.
The Knicks eventually stood pat and made no moves despite their 21-33 record and being 3 ½ games out of the final playoff spot.
No trades, no problem, Woodson said, even if rivals improved such as Indiana with Evan Turner’s addition. The Knicks coach hopes guys like Shumpert and Felton will improve with their minds more at ease now that they are certain to stick with the Knicks.Â
“There’s been a lot of things circulating but there was nothing done,’’ Woodson said. “At the end of the day, they’re still part of the Knicks family and wear a Knick uniform and they got themselves mentally and physically ready to play.
“I like to think (they’ll be more relaxed). When you approached that trade deadline, rumors out there about guys being moved,  sometimes it affects guys how they perform on the floor. Now it’s behind us and we can move on and try to finish these last 27 games on a high note.’’
Partly because Shumpert’s knee damage occurred on the eve of the trade deadline, the cautious Clippers decided not to go through with a deal that would’ve made Darren Collison the Knicks starting point guard. Knicks president Donnie Walsh passed on Collison in the 2009 draft to take Jordan Hill.
The Post reported Friday Shumpert hasn’t been thrilled with his position as a small forward in the smallball, two-point-guard alignment. He considers himself more a combo guard.
Asked why Shumpert’s season has been a dud after a strong two seasons, Woodson said, “I’m not throwing him under the bus. I’ve seen young players over the years. They make strides, then back up a step or two. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for him this season.  That’s not to say Iman won’t snap out of it  and be what we thought he could be. It’s just ..He’s had a tough go at it. As a coach I got to keep working with him, keep encouraging him that he could be the player I think he could be because the talent is there. It’s just getting him over the hump. It’s my job to do that.’’
“I left a message yesterday,’’ Woodson added. “It’s two weeks,  it could be earlier, you never know.  Just got to rehab and mentally get himself ready to go and physically. We’ll welcome back with open arms.’
Woodson said with Shumpert out, he will likely put disgruntled PG Beno Udrih back in the rotation and even Metta World Peace … Amar’e Stoudemire will play Friday night after resting his sore knee in New Orleans during this 4-games-in-5-nights stretch.Â