LAS VEGAS — The Knicks ended their Las Vegas summer league yesterday and Eddy Curry was never seen. And he’s tough to miss.
Curry blew off summer league the way he has blown off the last three seasons of his Knicks career. Knicks officials were told he would come and never heard a reason why he did not. Curry is believed to be holed up in Chicago, where his wife recently gave birth.
After Curry played just 10 games in the last two seasons, the Knicks would have loved to see him out on the floor competing with the young prospects to get some basketball under him.
But at the very least, Curry should have been here meeting with the coaches and working out for a few days with the other Knicks, especially newcomers Amar’e Stoudemire, Anthony Randolph and Russian center signee Timofey Mozgov. Wilson Chandler also was on hand.
Coach Mike D’Antoni put a positive spin on the Curry’s absence, but gave a very clear warning: He had better be ready in late September, or his time in Milan and Paris (where the Knicks will play preseason games at the start of October) will be as a tourist — not a basketball player.
“I’d be stupid if not being here would sway it,” D’Antoni told The Post. “But he’s got to be ready when training camp opens. He’s got to be ready.”
One person familiar with the situation says Curry’s no-show is a bad sign on gauging how much the 6-foot-11 center wants to salvage his eroding career.
In truth, the Knicks have low expectations for Curry. They can’t count on him. The days of coddling and showcasing Curry to increase his trade value to open up more 2010 cap space are over.
Curry has an expiring contract. If he had showed any ability to stay healthy the past two seasons, Curry could have been traded and the Knicks would have had room for close to offer three maximum contracts — like the Heat did.
The Knicks could trade Curry for a team looking to get under the cap in 2011. But the Knicks also are cap-conscious and probably won’t trade Curry to get a long-term contract back. They are focused on getting Carmelo Anthony in 2011 if he doesn’t sign a contract extension with Denver.
“If you’re ready to roll, this is all about winning now,” D’Antoni said of Curry’s status. “If he’s ready, he’ll play. We’re an unknown quantity, but our whole focus is to make the playoffs. Any player who contributes will play.”
A Russian website, Sport.ru, quoted Mozgov’s agent as saying he had been told newly acquired Ronny Turiaf will be the Knicks’ starting center and the Russian would be the backup. There was no mention of Curry.
“Veterans do not have to play in the summer league,” said Knicks team president Donnie Walsh, who is back in New York and still in a wheelchair rehabbing from neck surgery. “Eddie knows conditioning is important and he has to be ready for preseason.”
A buyout of Curry seems unlikely. Curry has had myriad financial problems and told The Post recently he would not accept anything less than his full $12M million. The Knicks would prefer not to release Curry, in case they need him in a trade.
The Knicks had bent over backwards for Curry, partly as a favor to his agent, Leon Rose, and his advisor, William Wesley, who are both connected to LeBron James.
Curry worked out at the Knicks’ practice facility throughout May, his weight under 300 pounds. But he left in early June for Chicago and contact with the team has been minimal, according to a source.
“Every position is not definitive except for point guard with Raymond [Felton] and power forward with Amar’e,” D’Antoni said. “A big, talented center in this league on almost any team would be appreciated. There’s definitely a spot.”