Chris Smith expects to play with his brother, J.R. Smith, on the Knicks next season.
“I will be back with my big brother @TheRealJRSmith … Will be a blessing to wear my Knicks uniform,” Chris Tweeted Sunday.
Chris Smith was waived by the Knicks on Oct. 26 after undergoing left patella tendon surgery. The former Louisville and Manhattan player spent the season rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee at the Knicks’ facilities, and told SNY.tv in January he hoped to return to the team next season.
The younger Smith recently parted ways with agent Marc Cornstein and signed with Leon Rose, who also reps J.R. The split was first reported by the New York Post and confirmed by Cornstein. The Smiths and Rose all hail from South Jersey.
J.R. has a player option for next season but is expected to opt out and test free agency. He told reporters after the Game 6 loss to Indiana that he wanted to retire as a Knick.
The Knicks hold his early-Bird rights and can offer him a four year deal starting at about $5 million.
On the open market, Smith would likely command more, although his poor and tumultuous postseason likely cost him money. He was suspended for Game 4 of the Celtics series for elbowing Jason Terry, and played poorly against the Pacers.
“J.R.’s a special player and to me and everybody on this team, he’s made a huge step forward as a basketball player and we look forward to that, for him to come out and be focused the way he’s focused this season,” Carmelo Anthony said Monday. “Win the Sixth Man of the Year award, help us to win another division title, helping us to 50-plus games, he’s a big piece to this team. I definitely would love him back here.”
