And in Knicks news not related to arraignments, arrests and the police blotter:
The Knicks want a big man and a perimeter defender and league sources said they are on the verge of adding 6-foot-10 New Jersey product Earl Clark plus 6-foot-4 Shannon Brown, an eight-season veteran, on 10-day contracts.
Clark, a 26-year-old veteran of five NBA seasons and four teams, and Brown, whose second 10-day contract with San Antonio expired last week, are expected to join the team on 10-day contracts for the game in Miami Thursday. Clark and Brown would fill the roster spots created through the buyouts of Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih.
Yahoo!Sports first reported the Knicks were finalizing the Clark deal. Sources said an announcement likely would be delayed until a Knicks game day, obviously, to maximize the 10-day span.
Clark was traded at the deadline from the Cavaliers to the Sixers. He was released and has cleared waivers. Out of Louisville, Clark was the No. 14 pick in 2009. He was on the Nets’ radar but they opted for his college teammate, Terrence Williams. Clark is a 4.5-point career scorer.
Brown’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Tuesday that though the Knicks worked out another one of his clients, Dahntay Jones, they also showed strong interest in Brown, an 8.0 career scorer. Brown was a first-round pick by Cleveland out of Michigan State in 2006. He has played with the Cavaliers, Bulls, Lakers, Bobcats, Suns and Spurs.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Monday he would meet with officials Tuesday and targeted two specific areas: “a guy that can defend a little bit at the perimeter spot … and maybe another big.”
There was one likely positive for the beleaguered Knicks Tuesday — it appears the NBA will not take action against J.R. Smith for pulling Vince Carter’s headband during Monday’s 110-108 loss to Dallas.
“I did, I saw it,” NBA President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn said. “Unless somebody makes a big deal about it I’m not going to do anything about it. Carter was laughing. They were just fooling around.”
Thorn whacked Smith with a $50,000 fine earlier in the season for “recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct” after he twice tried to untie an opponent’s shoelace at the foul line. He untied the laces of Dallas’ Shawn Marion on Jan. 5, was warned and then tried a repeat but was unsuccessful against Detroit’s Greg Monroe Jan. 7, prompting the penalty.
This time, despite a photograph in The Post and videos that showed him clearly yanking on Carter’s headband, Smith maintained his innocence and told reporters, “Your eyes were playing tricks on you.”
Carmelo Anthony has done everything humanly possible to save the Knicks season.
“He is playing at an unbelievable offensive level,” one opposing team executive raved Tuesday.
But the frustration of losing seems to be getting to Anthony.
“It is tough. You score 40, 44, 44, 44, and all losses,” Anthony said after scoring 44 points in vain during the last second loss to Dallas Monday. “You kind of ask yourself, ‘Is it worth it?’ I’m not going to stop what I’m doing. “This was a tough one. We fought. We gave all our effort, man. … We did everything besides win the basketball game.”