Berman

LAS VEGAS — On the day the Knicks added Metta World Peace, they lost J.R. Smith — possibly for all of training camp and the first two weeks of the regular season.

Four days after announcing his new four-year, $24.7 million package, Smith underwent surgery yesterday in New York to repair a patellar tendon and a torn meniscus, both in his left knee, putting him out three to four months.

The Knicks said Smith had two chronic injuries that gradually worsened. According to a league source, the tendon was chipped.

Smith, who will be 28 in September, certainly won’t be ready for Day 1 of training camp in early October and could miss the season opener later that month.

The Knicks knew about the issue when the season ended and knew Smith would need surgery. Earl Smith, J.R.’s father, claimed the surgery was timed for mid-July during summer league and it had no bearing on his son hiding his injury during free agency.

A source said teams that inquired about Smith were made aware of his impending surgery. The Knicks had no major qualms about offering him a four-year deal because they considered it below market value and the maximum they were allowed to offer under Early Bird Rights.

The Post reported exclusively on May 23 that Smith played during the Pacers series with an undisclosed left knee injury, with a source saying it was swollen with fluid buildup. The source said at the time, “He shouldn’t have even been playing.’’

Earl Smith said the timing of the surgery was due to it being most convenient for the Knicks’ medical and training staffs, which were to return to Las Vegas so there would be no lapse in his son’s rehab. If part of the preseason would be sacrificed, so be it.

“That was the plan all along,” the elder Smith said.

However, only one Knicks trainer is in Las Vegas, along with team medical director Dr. Lisa Callahan, so the timing still seems odd.

Earl Smith said he expects his son to be back for the season opener.

“Knowing J.R., he will be,’’ Earl Smith said. “It’s a great possibility.’’

Smith’s knee issue helps explain his downturn in the playoffs as the fluid likely was caused by the wear and tear of his cartilage. The Post reported Smith had played with varying degrees of knee pain since March, but he did not miss a single game because of injury. He played 80 of 82 games, resting the final two with the rest of the starters.

According to a source, Dr. Callahan told Smith he had the option of having surgery in March, but he opted to play through it.

Earl Smith said his son was greatly affected by the injury — not by rumored postseason partying.

“His knee was swollen in the playoffs,’’ the elder Smith said. “He didn’t have the lift on his jumper. You can tell something was wrong. They had him keeping late nights.’’

The NBA’s Sixth Man Award winner averaged 22 points on 48 percent shooting in the regular season’s final month, but shot 33 percent in the playoffs. The Post reported in late May that Smith would have a drainage procedure on his knee.

Ironically, Chris Smith, J.R.’s younger brother who is playing for the Knicks’ summer league team, is coming off a torn patellar tendon. Chris’ injury was more severe, according to a source.

* Knicks rookie shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., wearing a black brace on the bench, sat out yesterday’s loss to the Bobcats because of his sprained left wrist and may be done for the rest of the summer league schedule. He sprained the wrist late in the first quarter against the Wizards and sat out the rest of the game. Hardaway hopes to play when the Knicks resume action either tomorrow or Thursday in the playoff round.

“Doctors said not to play, I chose not to play and not risk anything,’’ Hardaway said. “I don’t know [about the next game]. It’s up to the doctors what I can do. We’ll be in therapy [today], see how it goes. I really want to get back out there. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.’’

Lol season still months away and we dealing with injuries already

Berman

LAS VEGAS — Knicks rookie combo forward C.J. Leslie believes the addition of Metta World Peace will help his transition. Leslie scored 15 points — 6-of-15 from the field — in yesterday’s 84-71 summer-league loss to the Bobcats.

Leslie, who fell out of the draft in a stunner, plays roughly the same position of the former Ron Artest. Leslie feels he’ll bring “mentorship and a lot of leadership’’ to the club.

“I think he’s a better teammate than he is on the court at this stage,’’ Leslie told The Post. “I heard a lot about him from other players on the Lakers. He’s a good teammate. I’m looking forward to it.

“He’s been through this game and knows a lot,’’ Leslie added. “He’s going to play hard for us. You don’t have to question that. He’s a big, strong body down low.’’

The Knicks had Leslie pegged as a late first-rounder and feel they got two first-round players out of the draft, in the NC State product and Tim Hardaway Jr., who missed yesterday’s game with a sprained wrist.

Woj

In a continuing search for deeper point guard depth, the New York Knicks conducted a workout with free-agent guard Bobby Brown in Las Vegas on Tuesday, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Brown, 28, had a breakout season in the Euroleague and has been discussing a return to the NBA with several teams this summer.

The Knicks are considering Brown with one of their remaining veteran minimum slots, sources said. The Knicks need a third point guard to play behind Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni.

Brown averaged 18.8 points and 5.3 a.ssists the past season for Siena of Italy. His 41 points in January in a dramatic comeback victory over talented Fenerbahce of Turkey was the highest-scoring Euroleague performance in a decade.

Brown played limited roles for four NBA teams – Sacramento, Minnesota, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers – beginning in 2008 before fully growing his game professionally in Europe over the past two years.

CHRIS HERRING

With the Knicks beginning to wrap up their summer, their team is finally taking shape.

They addressed one of their biggest needs—perimeter defense—by landing free agent Metta World Peace, whose signing became official Tuesday. And on paper, that deal gave the Knicks a formidable starting five—one that would allow World Peace to play small forward and let Carmelo Anthony stay at power forward, where he thrived last season.

One key question remains, though: Where does this leave Amar'e Stoudemire?

One by one, each Knick transaction this summer has de-emphasized the role of Stoudemire, 30, who has two seasons left on his five-year, $100 million contract.

There was the trade for Andrea Bargnani, who plays the same position and has the same limitations as Stoudemire—namely defense, rebounding and to some extent, health.

And while on the surface World Peace wouldn't appear to affect Stoudemire's role, there is a caveat. World Peace's ability to serve as a swingman—which allows Anthony to fill the power forward spot—leaves the frontcourt considerably more crowded than it was last season, when injuries afforded ample playing time to Stoudemire and a litany of other big men.

The exit of Steve Novak, who was traded for Bargnani, also figures to make life less easy for Stoudemire. He used a post game last year, and he was a force while on the court with the three-point specialist. He shot 69% at the rim in the 284 minutes he shared with Novak—up from the 55% he shot from there when Novak was on the sideline, per NBA.com.

If the Knicks have taken steps to rely less on the six-time All-Star, the reasoning is clear: They don't know what to expect from Stoudemire's fragile knees, which required separate surgeries and a minutes restriction last season. Also important: The Anthony-led Knicks have managed a far better record without Stoudemire (52-19) than with him (38-38) the past two seasons.

General manager Glen Grunwald played down the summer moves and any specific tie they might have to Stoudemire. "I don't think either Metta or Andrea necessarily impact his role," he said. "They're all good players, and good players will play. We think [Stoudemire] can be a key contributor for us."

None of this is to say Stoudemire hasn't performed when he has been healthy enough to play. He was incredibly productive on offense in the minutes he received. He shot 57.7% from the field, and was 11th in the league in scoring average (21.8 points) per 36 minutes.

Because of that, it'd be understandable if Stoudemire—who made the team relevant again when he signed on as a free agent back in 2010—wanted a bigger role. After all, last year he became only the third NBA player over the past 30 years, after Mehmet Okur (2010) and Kenyon Martin (2011), to start in every one of his games for five consecutive seasons, but not start in any during the sixth year, according to Stats LLC.

In a sign of how much has transpired lately, it is no longer clear whether Stoudemire—if he's a reserve—would get the nod as a sixth man even if J.R. Smith were to miss the start of the season to rehab his surgically repaired knee. World Peace and Bargnani each figure to get consideration for that spot, too.

Almost every scenario creates a conundrum. If Stoudemire starts, but is on a minute limitation, he'd probably be close to maxed out minutes-wise near the end of games.

And if he comes off the bench along with Bargnani, opposing teams would likely feast at the rim and on the glass. Both are subpar as lone rim protectors. And of the 58 players who stood 6 feet 11 or taller and logged 500 minutes last year, Stoudemire and Bargnani finished Nos. 51 and 58, respectively, in rebounding rate, according to Stats.

Simply put, there is no ideal fit or situation anymore. And perhaps that is why the Knicks have made the moves they have.

Hahn

As speculation grows about Carmelo Anthony's opt-out for next summer, Glen Grunwald offered his perspective. More:

The Knicks won't be able to do anything about the rumors about what Melo may do and the effort the Lakers reportedly plan to make to lure him to LA until February. That's when they are clear to sign him to a contract extention.

Melo said after this past season that he plans on being in New York a long time, but that won't be a.ssured until he signs an extension. As we've seen with Dwight Howard (and, coincidentally, Melo in Denver), that's not necessarily as simple as it seems.

As you know, the Knicks can offer him the most years and money than any other team. The Lakers will have a ton of cap space and ESPN.com reported that their ambitious plan is to try to sign both Melo and LeBron James in 2014.

Kobe Bryant wants that sixth ring. That is one way to get it.

But what hasn't been discussed is that the Knicks will have cap space in 2015. Would Kobe come to New York (the Garden is one of his favorite places) to get ring No. 6?

First things first, Melo has to either commit to staying or entertain free agency, which he passed on in 2011 by signing an extension after his trade to the Knicks.

Grunwald will have that as Priority One once the regular season begins. On Tuesday, he discussed it on a conference call with reporters.

"We obviously love Melo," he said. "We see it being a long-term, successful partnership with him."

Do you agree with Grunwald?

Berman

Whether Knicks owner James Dolan has forever soured on Iman Shumpert is unsubstantiated. What is crystal clear is Knicks coach Mike Woodson preferred Iman Shumpert had played more than just one game in the Las Vegas summer league.

Shumpert arrived late and left early. The summer league was sandwiched between two non-Knick events. One was the basketball camp Shumpert runs in his hometown of Oak Park, Ill., which kids pay to attend. The second was an NBA-sponsored trip China to be a league ambassador.

The organization wanted to look at Shumpert at point guard, but didn’t get a long look. Starting at point guard alongside rookie Tim Hardaway Jr., Shumpert, playing with his high-top dyed blond in the front, was 0-for-5 from the field with four turnovers and four a.ssists in the summer-league opener last Friday.

Then it was Adios Las Vegas.

Woodson said upon Shumpert’s departure the Knicks combo guard had “a prior commitment,’’ referring to China. Woodson then gave a pointed critique of Shumpert’s offensive game, saying the Knicks coaches would work with him in earnest when he returned July 26 because he “has a long ways to go.’’

The Shumpert issue took an even more bizarre twist yesterday with a YouTube video that surfaced in which ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made an off-the-cuff, off-the-air remark to Dwight Howard during a taping, indicating Dolan was unhappy with Shumpert’s summer league.

“And by the way, [James] Dolan was ready to trade [Shumpert] because he didn’t want to work out in the summer league,’’ Smith said to Howard, according to the videotape.

Smith added to Howard, “Dolan’s talking about trading him. I said, ‘Trade who? You better hold on to that boy. You better not lose Iman Shumpert.’ That boy can play.”

Smith addressed the video on his ESPN radio show yesterday and said he heard Dolan felt that way before the summer league began an doesn’t believe the Knicks owner still feels that way because Shumpert showed up in Las Vegas.

After Shumpert bolted town, Woodson said the guard needed to improve his offensive repertoire. With the possibility of J.R. Smith missing the start of the season because of knee surgery, the Knicks appear desperate for Shumpert to emerge as their secondary scorer while also dabbling at point guard.

The Knicks are still searching for a third point guard via free agency. Aaron Brooks, Sebastian Telfair and Euroleaguer Bobby Brown are on their radar but they may just roll the dice with summer league standout Toure Murry.

“We’re going to develop [Shumpert] as the summer goes along,’’ Woodson said. “There’s a lot of individual things he’s got to learn from a skill standpoint to better his game. He’s been good the last few years. He still has a ways to go in terms of things we expect him to do for us.

“He’s got to develop go-to moves where he can score the basketball and get shots,’’ Woodson added. “Defensively, I like everything about him. Offensively, he has to learn to play with the basketball, get players off and get and make shots for himself.’’

When Shumpert had a slow start upon his return last January, the Knicks were listening to trade offers, with Phoenix offering Jared Dudley. Shumpert had a strong finish to the season and it would seem highly unlikely they will trade him — unless it brings them Boston’s Rajon Rondo.

Shumpert said in Vegas he was not there against his will. Some fans were upset Shumpert was forced to play summer league, fearing he may reinjure his knee.

“I’m here with a smile,’’ Shumpert said. “I’m not here with angry eyes. I’m happy to be healthy.’’

Despite entering his third season, Shumpert had never played summer league. The lockout wiped out summer league when he was a rookie and he was rehabbing his ACL tear last July.

“I can get hurt working out by myself in the gym,’’ Shumpert said before the opener. “I’m not thinking about me getting hurt.’’

Oh that's how it is huh shump. fu*k summer league b I almost forgot how these n*ggas be gettin r*ped, just saw the heat game omg

Are we gonna sign another big?

I don't even know what to think right now

I just have a feeling that something big will go down before the season begins or by the trade deadline. It's that "funny" feeling. Born. U prob know what I'm talkin about

U know. Just that funny feeling. I know Dolan is goin ape sh*t right now

dj ac said: Are we gonna sign another big?

yuppers, only two priorities left on who the team is looking to sign, another big (possibly K-Mart) and another PG (don't be shocked if we end up signing Toure' Murry, who could be our next "diamond in the rough, outta nowhere player)

Brooklyn Lost said: I don't even know what to think right now I just have a feeling that something big will go down before the season begins or by the trade deadline. It's that "funny" feeling. Born. U prob know what I'm talkin about U know. Just that funny feeling. I know Dolan is goin ape sh*t right now

i'm just worried of who it can involve

but yeah, either trade deadline or during the draft next year

"God" I hope we land Bobby Brown

We might offer Brown a contract soon... I just want to know if Bobby Brown is better than Toure Murray... they should have both of them square up in training camp.

Also, Jeremy Tyler is coming to camp, and I think we should bring Terrence Jennings too to compete against him.

Imo, Shump did the right thing just playing just one game. I didn't expect him to play at all, coming of a torn acl. Knicks knees not looking all that good right now. Don't know about Murray as 3rd string point. He's not even a real pg plus doesn't have an outside shot as far as I'v seen in summer league games. I like this kid Tyler though, would be a nice addition, but knicks got a back up pg problem.

Man just cause he dropping numbers in summer league don't mean he doin that in a real game
fu*k em all

Isola, meh

LAS VEGAS — This was supposed to be the month when Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul would finally become partners in New York, forming the perfect free-agent marriage of superstar scorer and superstar point guard.

You remember that infamous toast from a few years ago, right? Anthony, Paul and Amar’e Stoudemire were plotting to become the Knicks’ answer to LeBron, Wade and Bosh. That’s what Paul hinted at before the Knicks went all in on Tyson Chandler, essentially eliminating them from having a chance to sign Paul when he became a free agent three week ago.

So instead, Anthony and Paul found themselves together in Beijing last week promoting Nike and undoubtedly discussing the state and future of their respective teams. For Paul, it’s been a good summer. Doc Rivers is now his coach, the Clippers have surpassed the Lakers as the best team in Los Angeles and can call themselves a legitimate contender.

As for Melo? The last few weeks have been about as much fun as having your knee drained.

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have invaded his turf, joining the Nets who have surpassed the Knicks as the best team in New York, and if you believe the orange and blue are a serious threat to win you probably believe in unicorns, Baron Davis’ alien story and Metta World Peace.

The Heat still has LeBron. Chicago, Indiana and Brooklyn all got better and don’t look now but Cleveland has a plan and is headed in the right direction. The Knicks, as presently put together, are still a playoff team and one capable of winning between 45 and 52 games. But claiming they’ve improved is like trying to convince someone that Stoudemire’s knees will hold up for 82 games. Nothing wrong with being optimistic but reality and history can be as jarring as Roy Hibbert’s block on Anthony in Game 6.

Anthony ended the season with a damaged shoulder that as of now won’t need surgery but could be a recurring issue. Stoudemire will be on a minutes restriction, Chandler is coming off a disappointing spring, J.R. Smith just had knee surgery, first-round pick Tim Hardaway Jr. hurt his wrist and played one summer league game, Iman Shumpert is on the owner’s bad side and the team is selling World Peace as the unifying locker room presence. Oh boy, indeed.

Jason Kidd, the point guard that had the knack of seeing plays develop before anyone else, obviously saw this one coming from a mile away. He didn’t retire as much as he escaped.

The trade for Andrea Bargnani is, in theory, a good one. The Knicks didn’t give up much to get the former top overall pick from the Toronto Raptors. Scoring, however, wasn’t the Knicks’ problem last season as much as defense was. And Bargnani ain’t helping in that area. The same goes for rebounding. Plus, there is no telling how his presence will impact Stoudemire, whose contract and knees have turned him into this decade’s Allan Houston.

But what worries you more than just the composition of the roster is the dysfunction inside James Dolan’s house. Okay, that’s somewhat redundant but it’s still troubling. The Knicks apparently signed Smith to a three-year contract with a player option for a fourth year just five days before he had surgery that could keep him sidelined up to four months.

The Knicks say they were well aware of Smith’s condition and didn’t see a problem with making a long-term commitment to a player headed for the operating room. You hope for the best but the real Knick fan out there thinks about Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, Antonio McDyess, Houston and Stoudemire and realizes that with knees and basketball players there are no guarantees. Well, except for their contracts of course.

Alas, the story changed quickly. Even though Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald acknowledged that Smith was under contract for four years, somehow the deal became a two-year contract with a player option. That’s swell, but it still doesn’t explain why the Knicks couldn’t just sign Smith to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million. Or did they really think another team was ready to pounce on the mercurial shooting guard on his way to the Hospital for Special Surgery?

The last time the Knicks bid against themselves, they handed Houston the richest contract in franchise history. That was Dolan’s first big move of the post Dave Checketts era. And as the saying goes, the hits just keep on coming.

The signing of World Peace (Ron Artest), in theory, is also okay. He can defend, he’s tough, he comes cheap and he’s entertaining, which, if you haven’t figured it out, is what they are really selling at MSG. He’s also done things in his past that make Smith look like a choir boy. But talking to coaches and executives here last week, they all like Metta and swear he is a good teammate.

“It was fine to work with him,” says one Lakers coach. “Most of the time, he has good days. But when he has a bad day it is a really bad day.”

Let’s a.ssume that Metta will be a model citizen and is all grown up now. Those same coaches and executives believe that will be the case. But they were also near unanimous in that they feel Metta the basketball player is near his expiration date.

I guess the only question is if Metta expires before Shumpert, one of the few Knicks who has value. Dolan is reportedly upset that Shumpert wasn’t interested in working with the summer league team and wants to trade him. Shumpert, I’ve heard, isn’t too crazy about the moves the Knicks have made, which could further stunt his development.

The bigger issue is that Dolan is still throwing his weight around and throwing temper tantrums. The man behind the curtain who refuses to answer questions and address his loyal fan base is very much in charge. He was the driving force behind the grand plan to acquire Melo, Amar’e and Paul. Instead, the Knicks’ three big moves this summer were to form the alliance of Bargnani, Smith and Metta World Peace.

That none of the three was formally introduced with a traditional press conference is somewhat telling. Leave it to the scene stealing Nets to televise the Garnett and Pierce press conference live last week.

The Knicks, who have their own network, went as dark as the Garden in June.

My theory is that Dolan didn’t want to preempt any of his summer programming on MSG Network.

You know, those fan favorites like “Serpico” and the Knicks legend series featuring Baron Davis and Rasheed Wallace.

Hope melo dont go to the clippers

Just worry bout this season b thats all that matters

Jeremy Tyler received a training camp invite