MILWAUKEE — Knicks coach Mike Woodson praised the Eastern Conference-leading Pacers for signing center Andrew Bynum, saying they added “a big load to their roster.’’
The Knicks would have taken a flier on Bynum, too, but only had the veteran’s minimum to offer him. Prorated over the rest of the season, that would have amounted to about $550,000. Bynum netted $1 million from the Pacers, who used part of their mid-level exception as president Larry Bird and GM Kevin Pritchard can sense an NBA title.
“I think it’s an excellent move,’’ Woodson said at the morning shootaround at Bradley Center on Monday before the Knicks face the Bucks. “I think Bynum is a big force in the middle if he can play. It’s a positive move. He had shown signs with Cleveland. He’s had his fair share of injuries too, but they just added another big load to their roster.’’
The Knicks made a late push to meet with Bynum, who hails from New Jersey, but he had reservations about signing with the Knicks that went beyond financial reasons.
The Knicks have depth, but a flock of injury-riddled big men behind center Tyson Chandler, who also has been an injury risk. With the Feb. 20 trade deadline upcoming, the Knicks would seek a bona fide backup center behind Chandler.
Off the bench, the Knicks have Kenyon Martin, Amar’e Stoudemire, youngster Jeremy Tyler and Metta World Peace. Martin and Stoudemire returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two weeks with ankle sprains. Martin has a chronic ankle condition, Stoudemire has a chronic knee condition and World Peace also has an arthritic knee. Then there’s Andrea Bargnani, their former starting power forward who will return from a serious elbow injury to a role as a reserve.
Stoudemire, upon his return Saturday, was held to just 4:26 as he plays his way into condition. Woodson has a lot of decisions to make on splitting the backup big-man minutes. He said he would like to get Stoudemire back to playing 20-plus minutes, but will take it slow. Martin, Tyler and especially World Peace will get the squeeze.
“He’ll get back to getting his minutes he had been playing well,’’ Woodson said of Stoudemire. “He didn’t get a chance to practice. He’ll get back to getting his minutes. He had been playing well for us.
“Metta hasn’t been playing, so you can’t really put him in the mix. Kenyon and Amar’e will be back in the rotations. I still have to be open-minded with Amar’e and Kenyon. Amar’e’s missed some games, so I’m not going to play him 30 minutes. We just got slow-walk it again. Jeremy will be in and out — not playing the big minutes he was playing. I’m going back to the regular guys and try to work him in.’’
But Woodson cautioned he will take it slow with Stoudemire.
“I’m not going to burn him again,’’ Woodson said. “I’ve had a enough injuries with him and Kenyon both. Jeremy is starting to play better, too. I’m not going to forget about him as well because I think he deserves minutes.’’