NBA

GM signs Martin, says Knicks can win it all

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TORONTO — Knicks GM Glen Grunwald’s work is done. But are the Knicks done, too?

Grunwald said he has built a team with a chance to break the club’s 40-year championship drought despite evidence to the contrary amid its recent doldrums. Grunwald did his final minor tinkering Thursday to the league’s oldest roster, adding another ancient piece and another former Nugget in signing as big-man insurance 35-year-old Kenyon Martin.

The long-anticipated addition was carried out in case center Marcus Camby (strained plantar fascia) and Rasheed Wallace (stress reaction) can’t stay healthy for the playoffs.

At Thursday’s trade deadline, Grunwald opened up a roster spot for Martin’s addition by shipping out-of-the-rotation guard Ronnie Brewer to Oklahoma City for a 2014 second-round pick. Martin will sign a 10-day contract but is not expected to play either Friday night in Toronto or Sunday against Philadelphia as final details get worked out.

It wasn’t much of an upgrade for a club that has lost four of its last five games, was humiliated in Indiana on Wednesday night and has been a .500 team since mid-December after beginning the season 18-5. Martin, with the Clippers last season, hasn’t played this season.

“That’s our goal. That’s what this organization is trying to do — move toward an NBA championship,” Grunwald said on a conference call, the first time he has talked to the media since Oct. 1. “Hopefully, we’ve made great progress on our goal. I think we have the parts to do so.’’

The Knicks still are second in the East — five games behind Miami — but have looked like a disjointed group recently, softer on defense, with no reliable secondary scorer to bail them out on Carmelo Anthony’s off nights. Grunwald admitted teams have adjusted to the Knicks’ offensive system.

“But we’re optimistic,’’ Grunwald said. “We obviously have to play better. We’ve had some difficult games. Teams go through that. I’m optimistic Woody [coach Mike Woodson] and the players will find a way to get back to their winning ways, get back to playing winning basketball.’’

Knicks brass wanted to do more, but didn’t have the favorable contracts or future pawns to make a splash. Grunwald said they were never close to trading young stud Iman Shumpert, who has been lousy since his return from ACL surgery in mid-January.

But a Shumpert resurgence is key to the title chase.

“We had no trade discussions with Shump,’’ Grunwald said. “Shump’s a key part of the future. We’re happy to have him back. He’s had a great rehab. It’s a difficult injury. He’s not 100 percent yet. Obviously he’s coming back from a difficult injury. But we’re very optimistic, with his work ethic and attitude, he will be back to his old self very shortly.’’

Instead, Grunwald shored up a critical issue that has haunted them, taking out a Camby/Wallace insurance policy. Camby and Wallace are back practicing, but they haven’t said when they will play. Martin should be ready Wednesday against Golden State. Camby at least scrimmaged Thursday, but told The Post he was in some discomfort, adding “I’m not putting a timetable on it.’’

“Marcus has one of those injures that’s tricky to predict how a player can react to it,’’ Grunwald said. “Same thing with Rasheed. It’s a little bit of insurance. But we’re expecting both Rasheed and Marcus to come back and play this year.

“We always liked Kenyon,’’ Grunwald added. “He’s a great competitor, good defender, played with a number of players on the Knicks. There’s synergies already built in. We’re looking forward to adding another good defender to help us in our quest this season.’’

Martin, in his prime, made an electric pair with Kidd, in his prime, across the Hudson for the Nets. Martin played in Denver with Anthony, Camby and J.R. Smith.

Grunwald said adding Martin made them deeper and Brewer became extraneous once Shumpert returned. Rookie Chris Copeland and James White even moved ahead of Brewer in Woodson’s rotation.

“We have a pretty deep team and hopefully now we’ll be able to withstand the injuries that are naturally occurring,’’ Grunwald said.

The signing also is an indictment on Amar’e Stoudemire’s defense. Stoudemire still is coming off the bench and looks like he’ll stay there.

Asked about Stoudemire’s odd status as a $100 million player playing 20-plus minutes, Grunwald said, “Salary doesn’t matter. We need to come up with a formula that will be successful. If that’s Amar’e coming off the bench, that’s great. If Coach Woodson decides to change that, it’s all about trying to win here. Amar’e has been wonderful in that regard, a true professional and great teammate. … I think he’s moving as well as ever.’’