As a simmering Larry Hughes left the visitor’s locker room late Sunday night in Minnesota sporting a new beard, he said his facial hair growth was related to his banishment from the rotation.
When will he shave it?
“When I get out of jail,” Hughes cracked.
Hughes’ release from coach Mike D’Antoni’s prison could occur this month — even if the Knicks can’t trade his expiring contract at the Feb. 18 deadline.
Hughes, who played a total of just 15 minutes in two games in January, is more ticked off than ever at his status and is hoping something comes down at the trade deadline in two weeks.
“I’m looking at it, I’m looking at it,” Hughes said, indicating his agent, Jeff Wexler, is in discussions with team brass.
If Hughes, who is in the final year of a contract that pays him $14 million this year, is not traded, Hughes appears willing to take a buyout so that he can restart his career elsewhere.
“We’re talking,” Hughes said. “We’ll figure this thing out. Hopefully sooner than later and move forward.”
With the Knicks (18-29) on the verge of falling out of playoff contention after a terrible end to January in part because of the poor play of the bench, D’Antoni’s rotation is under the microscope again. Two weeks ago, Hughes called D’Antoni’s rotation shifts “a joke.”
Sunday night was one of the tougher losses for Hughes to sit through. The bench was putrid, with Jonathan Bender, Nate Robinson and Jordan Hill combining to shoot 2 of 17. The club was missing Al Harrington, who could miss tomorrow’s game against the Wizards because of a sore knee, but D’Antoni still did not look toward the 6-foot-5 Hughes.
“It’s not any more frustrating,” Hughes said. “It’s as high as it’s going to get. It’s already there. I can’t get any more frustrated than I already am.”
The Knicks had a 9-6 December with Hughes playing decent minutes. On Jan. 1, D’Antoni made the switch to Nate Robinson. Though Robinson lit up Atlanta for 41 points on New Year’s Day, his play has not been at a high level every night.
“It was a month lost for me really, for our team,” Hughes said. “Because we didn’t put together wins to give us a good push going into the All-Star break. We want to make the playoffs.”
Hughes’ best chance of being dealt is to balance out salary cap numbers if the Knicks can work out a trade for the Rockets’ Tracy McGrady, who makes $23 million.
⇒ Danilo Gallinari, who leads the league in 3-pointers made, is expected to be named today to the roster for the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend.