CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mike Woodson confirmed The Post’s report the Knicks would stand pat and not add a center in light of Tyson Chandler’s broken leg that will keep him out 4-to-6 weeks.
Woodson said centers are “scarce’’ and the club will wait for the D-League to start before deciding on anything, claiming there wasn’t any center out there of note. Nevertheless, a source told The Post Knicks owner James Dolan didn’t want to add more salary since they are already paying 16 players this season and are deep in luxury-tax territory.
Jeremy Tyler is not on the roster, but made his $200,000 guarantee despite getting cut in training camp. The Knicks are likely to re-sign him in December and pay him an additional new contract. Tyler will likely first play a few games for Erie. Because the Knicks are over the luxury tax threshold as repeat offenders, each new contract gets taxed by a ratio of 2-1.
“We’re going to stay where we are,’’ Woodson said. “I know this D-League thing is coming up with training camp. We’ll start evaluating our situation. That’s down the road.’’
“You can always cut and get a big but bigs are scarce. It’s hard to find them. If you know of any let me know.’’
Earl Barron and Ike Diogu would have made good fits as rebounders. Barron has had two stints with the Knicks and Diogu excelled in training camp.
But they want to see what they have in Cole Aldrich.
“I know he can rebound,’’ Woodson said. “But again the way we want to make sure he can keep up with the pace.’’
Woodson said Aldrich would get minutes with Chandler’s injury. Aldrich played just 1:29 in the Knicks’ 101-91 win over the Bobcats, but should play more against San Antonio on Sunday if Amar’e Stoudemire sits.
“Any minutes you get is an opportunity to go out there and help the team win,’’ said Aldrich, a former lottery pick out of Kansas. “It’s a huge disappointment Tyson can’t play for 4-to-6 weeks or however long it’s going to be. We all have to make up for it. Tyson is a huge part of our team. We can’t sit around and mope around it. The season continues.’’
The Knicks don’t want to cut J.R. Smith’s brother, Chris, right now until the D-League starts and he will have a place to land. He will play at their D-League affiliate in Erie whether he’s part of the 15-man roster or not. He’s already pocketed his $491,000 guarantee so they want him with the club as a practice player too.
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Woodson has gotten the medical staff to lift Stoudemire’s minutes to 15 but he played 8:28. He shook off some rust and had five points and two rebounds. Kenyon Martin’s 10-minute restriction has risen to the 18-to-20 range but he played 10:06. They both played Friday for the first time this season. … Friday was the last game without J.R. Smith, who returns Sunday from his five-game suspension. “Not having him at the start was a killer,’’ Woodson said.