Knicks owner James Dolan may need to use the roaming function on his cell phone and call Canada again to ask about point guard Kyle Lowry of the Raptors.
Already without starting point guard Raymond Felton, interim starter Pablo Prigioni is down for at least two weeks after suffering a hairline fracture of his right big toe. No surgery is needed, but his loss is devastating, especially with how smoothly he had run the team since Felton went down with a hamstring strain last week.
“Another body down, another body gone,’’ Carmelo Anthony said. “Pablo is a big loss. We have to make due right now. There is nothing we can do about that. Guys have to bring the ball up and help at that position.’’
Rookie Tour’e Murry, a preseason sensation, will be pressed into action to back up Beno Udrih, who played the final 22 minutes after Prigioni went down in the Knicks’ 102-101 loss to the Wizards. Mike Woodson also said Iman Shumpert will be pressed into some point-guard duty. He was drafted as a point guard and played much of his solid rookie year at the point.
“I am ready for whatever, but this is Coach’s decision,’’ Shumpert said.
The Knicks may decide to step up talks for Lowry, but clearly don’t want to panic and give up either Shumpert or Tim Hardaway Jr. in the deal. Plus, Felton could be back within 10 days.
The Knicks probably will want an extra point guard for practice and call up Chris Smith from the D-League. Woodson said Smith’s situation will be “evaluated.’’