Knicks to sign J.R. Smith

The Knicks will officially add free agent reserve shooting guard J.R. Smith to Linsanity today, making the hottest team in the NBA a deep team as well.

According to multiple sources, Smith, who played in China during the lockout and became eligible to sign an NBA deal on Wednesday, will be at the Garden tonight, but won’t make his debut until Sunday against the Mavericks.

The Knicks have to cut a player to make room for Smith and Renaldo Balkman, who has been out of the rotation since early January, is the expected candidate, according to a source. Coach Mike D’Antoni was never a big fan of Balkman, a throw-in to the trade with the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony. Balkman has one remaining year at $1.8 million and could have been an amnesty casualty if the Knicks were still going for 2012 cap space.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/m ... &FEEDNAME=

Hit or miss situation here. JR has to know his role & can't disrupt the offense. As a basketball fan, I'm excited to see this. That MSG crowd will absolutely love him when he catches fire.

Only downside is that the season is half over so it's unlikely he can get 1000+ minutes and 200+ three point jacks. Otherwise I could see D'Antoni encouraging him to shatter his incredible 2006-07 and 2007-08 marks of 9.3 and 9.9 three point attempts per 36 minutes respectively.

I was hoping that he'd go to the Clippers, since their starting SG at the moment is Randy Foye, but hopefully he's a good fit for New York. It's kinda cool to see him reunited with Melo too.

I was hoping that he'd go to the Clippers, since their starting SG at the moment is Randy Foye, but hopefully he's a good fit for New York. It's kinda cool to see him reunited with Melo too.

I'd say he'd fit more with the D'Antoni offense than with the Clippers style of play. But I'm not so sure he'll fit in as a character.

If Landry Fields got benched for this I would be fucking pissed

If Landry Fields got benched for this I would be fucking pissed

A team desperate for offense despite three 20+ scorers and one of the most efficient bigs of all time could use a historic bomber.

Seems like a decent pickup to me, it'll be interesting to see how it works out.

Only downside is that the season is half over so it's unlikely he can get 1000+ minutes and 200+ three point jacks. Otherwise I could see D'Antoni encouraging him to shatter his incredible 2006-07 and 2007-08 marks of 9.3 and 9.9 three point attempts per 36 minutes respectively.

Have you seen Steve Novak's epic bombing recently? He's up to 9.8 per 36, making .457 of them. Between the two of them they're going to be taking 20.

we will see if it was a good decision but i love the knicks and I am lucky that Melo and JR are reunited and if smith is allowed to be in starting 5 they have the best offensive starting five in the league I think i'm vere excited

Only downside is that the season is half over so it's unlikely he can get 1000+ minutes and 200+ three point jacks. Otherwise I could see D'Antoni encouraging him to shatter his incredible 2006-07 and 2007-08 marks of 9.3 and 9.9 three point attempts per 36 minutes respectively.

Have you seen Steve Novak's epic bombing recently? He's up to 9.8 per 36, making .457 of them. Between the two of them they're going to be taking 20.

he sucked balls against the Hornets last night, missing at least 3 wide open 3s. don't think JR will help them get the stops they need... especially when down 2, they give up a layup to the Hornets

If Landry Fields got benched for this I would be fucking pissed

A team desperate for offense despite three 20+ scorers and one of the most efficient bigs of all time could use a historic bomber.

We're already calling Lin a 20+ scorer?

Benji's sober again. Lin's a 20-5-5-6 player.

Guess the Knicks really want to have as much ballhogs on their teams as possible, just add Westbrook and you have a 10 APG team

We're already calling Lin a 20+ scorer?

Technically he is...

But it was flourish to emphasize how bad the Knicks are offensively.

I think that Wilson Chandler would've been a better pick up for them considering he's already familiar with the Knicks system.

6/16 shooting for 15 points by JR this after noon. But his +/- is outstanding, team best +21. Not bad.

Smith was pretty solid in the first half. He fit in a lot better than I thought he would.

Looks like he's going to be stuck behind Carmelo in another city.

I think that Wilson Chandler would've been a better pick up for them considering he's already familiar with the Knicks system.

iirc he's a restricted FA and Denver intends to show him the money and match offers.