LAS VEGAS — The Knicks need a banger up front to contend with the Pacers’ Roy Hibbert. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Jeremy Tyler is trying to prove he’s the guy.
Tyler, who played for the Warriors and Hawks last season, got off to a great start Friday in the Knicks summer league opener against the Pelicans with a 10-point, 11-rebound performance. He started at power forward, played 23 minutes and had five offensive rebounds.
The Knicks may re-sign aging Kenyon Martin but there’s a big chance the younger, taller Tyler will be invited to training camp — maybe even with a partial guarantee. Ironically, he grew up a fan in San Diego.
“The Knicks have always been my favorite team,’’ Tyler said. “I’d love to be part of the organization. People would say, ‘you’re from San Diego. Why aren’t you a Lakers fan?’’’
After being cut by the Warriors and Hawks, Tyler went to the D-League with Santa Cruz and reached the league championship.
Tyler skipped college to play one year in Israel and Japan, and was drafted in the second round by the Warriors.
“Business takes over,’’ Tyler said. “Golden State wanted more room for cap space and Atlanta needed the roster spot for a guard, not a big. If I keep playing hard, things will fall into place.’’
* Add small forward Al Harrington to the list of potential Knicks targets. Harrington, a former teammate of Carmelo Anthony’s in Denver, is expected to be bought out by the Magic. The former Knick is in Vegas, where he owns a home.
* There’s a chance Iman Shumpert is one-and-done with the summer league and won’t play today against the Wizards, who boast impressive No. 3 pick Otto Porter.
* The Knicks face an interesting dilemma as combo guard Toure Murry is already playing as if he deserves a training-camp invite. Murry played in the D-League for the Rockets’ affiliate, the Rio Grand Valley Vipers, and won the D-League title. He is a shooting guard trying to make the conversion to point guard for the Knicks.
He’s a very good defender but has spent the offseason working on his errant jump shot. He looked very smooth in the D-League opener, making 4-of-6 from the field for 11 points in 12 minutes. Murry could ultimately be the guy who competes with J.R. Smith’s brother, Chris, for the final roster spot.