With Rasheed Wallace’s and Marcus Camby’s health a nagging concern despite their returns to practice yesterday, the Knicks are one of a handful of teams to inquire about Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov this month, according to a league source. The trading deadline is tomorrow.
Mozgov, the former Knick, has been reduced to third-string by the Nuggets and is in the final year of his 3-year contract that he originally signed with the Knicks.
With his expiring contract, Mozgov likely would be keen on re-signing here after his positive experience in New York.
The Nuggets’ asking price was said to be high, but the Knicks will have their $3.1 million mini mid-level exception this summer and plan to chase him then, too, with Wallace expected to retire again after the season.
Former Knicks president Donnnie Walsh reluctantly parted ways with Mozgov in the Carmelo Anthony package. In fact, Mozgov became the final snag to the deal with Denver before the Knicks succumbed. He was a find by European scout Kevin Wilson, whom general manager Glen Grunwald adores.
Mozgov is behind Kostas Koufas and Javale McGee in the Nuggets’ rotation. He has played in just 31 games, starting just once, and is averaging 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds a game. He was a key piece to the Russian Olympic team that won a bronze medal last year.
“I know he can play in this league, I know he’s a 20-minute player,’’ Denver coach George Karl said last week. “I just don’t have 20 minutes to give him. I feel bad for him.’’
Wallace (left foot stress reaction), out since mid-December, and Camby (plantar fasciitis) returned to practice but did not scrimmage and coach Mike Woodson acted as if they are at least a week away from playing. Camby last played five weeks ago.
“It was good to have everybody back,’’ Woodson said. “We’re not fully healthy, but we had Rasheed and Marcus [go] through conditioning work today and it was nice to see.’’
Wallace did a lot of running and walking while hooked up to various electrical contraptions. The Knicks kept him out for two months to ensure his stress reaction didn’t become a stress fracture. Dr. Lisa Callahan, the team’s director of player care, watched his workout.
“Today was a step for both of them in terms of conditioning,’’ Woodson said. “I’m not just going to throw them into uniform. They’re going to have to show me they can run up and down, then we’ll consider putting them in the ballgame. They’re not going to ever play big minutes. I just want them to be safe and somewhat physically ready to play when I put them in there. We’ve probably been very cautious up to this point.’’
* Slumping Jason Kidd, who has battled a sore back, said the All-Star break did him good as he played golf in Boca Raton, Fla.
“I feel great,’’ Kidd said. “A lot of guys got much-needed rest. There’s nothing like the sun. You don’t get too much of that here in New York in the wintertime. I had a great trip.’’
When asked his goal for the second half, Kidd said, “We want to try to win the division and also make sure to be healthy and going in the right direction come playoff time.’’