Count J.R. Smith among those who think Tracy McGrady still has something left to give.
“Definitely,” Smith told The Post when asked if McGrady could help the Knicks after Yahoo! Sports reported Thursday McGrady has worked out for the team. “T-Mac has always been an elite player in this league.
“We need all the help we can get in every area. … So whenever a big name comes up that can help our team, we’ve got to get him.”
Smith, who was attending a charity event last night in Brooklyn hosted by Houston Rocket and Brooklyn native Gary Forbes, said he recently has been one of several players at the Knicks’ practice facility in Westchester, and is excited for the season to get under way in a few weeks.
“I wish it was starting tomorrow,” Smith said.
McGrady, who reportedly also has worked out for the Spurs, spent the final few weeks of the 2009-10 season with the Knicks after he — and his massive expiring contract — were acquired to help shed salary and make a run at that summer’s star-studded free-agent class. The 6-foot-8, 33-year-old swingman spent last season in a reserve role with the Hawks, averaging 5.3 points and 16.1 minutes per game in 52 games.
In addition to McGrady’s visit, the Knicks also had free-agent forward Malcolm Thomas work out Thursday. Thomas, a 6-foot-9 forward, tweeted a picture of Amar’e Stoudemire’s jersey at the team’s Westchester practice facility, adding that Stoudemire is his favorite player.
The 23-year-old Thomas, who wasn’t selected in the 2011 draft out of San Diego State, signed with a Korean club when the lockout began, then came back to the U.S. and played in three games for the Spurs, along with three D-League stints. Though the Knicks do have 19 players under contract, several of them have non-guaranteed or partial-guaranteed deals, and will be competing for the final spots on the 15-man roster.
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Carmelo Anthony, in Puerto Rico this weekend to unveil basketball courts rebuilt through his charitable foundation, said he was looking forward to bonding with the Knicks’ new and younger players. He dismissed criticism that he and Amar’e Stoudemire aren’t working well together.
“We sit in the locker room [and] laugh about all the comments,” he said.
Anthony said the Knicks will miss Jeremy Lin, who joined the Rockets in July.
“I know it was kind of hard for the Knicks to let him go,” Anthony said. “[The Rockets] played the free-agent market to a T.”
Anthony also is holding a free celebrity softball game tomorrow with athletes including Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Bernie Williams, Marcus Camby and J.J. Barea.
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Hakeem Olajuwon, who spent over two weeks working with Stoudemire earlier this summer at his ranch outside of Houston, will work with Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby next week at the team’s practice facility, according to ESPN.com.
Olajuwon also discussed the Anthony-Stoudemire partnership, and how the pair have the potential to work well with one another.
“They both have to realize that the most important thing is not how great you are individually,” Olajuwon told the website. “You’re remembered for how many games you win. So to get to play with another great offensive player should help you. It should make your job easier. You have to work well together. You can’t be competitors with one another.”
—With AP