Knicks fans got some unfortunate news this evening when the club announced that J.R. Smith has undergone patellar tendon surgery and an arthroscopy for a tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee. He'll need three to four months to recover, putting him in line for a return between October 15th and November 15th, according to the club. The timing of the news is curious as the defending Sixth Man of the Year re-signed with the Knicks on a four-year, $24.7MM deal just last week. Here's more out of the Atlantic..
- A league source told Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that the Knicks knew that Smith would likely require surgery on his knee when they signed him to his new deal. Zwerling adds that an orthopedist once told him that about 60% of NBA players undergo knee procedures over the summer, many of which the public doesn't hear about (link).
- At today's press conference introducing Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and Keith Bogans to the Boston media, GM Danny Ainge admitted that there's still a lot of work ahead for him this summer. "I think everything is in flux for the next few months," Ainge said. "We have a little bit of a logjam at our big positions. We have a little bit of a logjam at the shooting guard position. So there’s some decisions and some choices that we’re going to have to make over the next few months."
- Ainge went on to say that the Nets wanted a Dream Team at any cost, writes Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com in his wrapup of the presser.
- Former Celtics guard Terrence Williams has left agent Aaron Goodwin and joined up with Herb Rudoy, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). You can keep track of everyone's representation with the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.