Knicks team president Phil Jackson will have $27 million in cap space on July 1 and may be willing to save a trifle of it for 7-foot free-agent center Jason Smith.
According to a source, Jackson would love to have Smith back as the backup center — a sweet-shooting big man for the triangle. Jackson realizes it may not be possible if Smith gets offered significantly more than the $1.4 million veteran’s minimum.
Jackson may be willing to go higher than the minimum to retain Smith, depending on how his other free-agent forays unfold. Jackson has said he may not get a big man he covets in the draft and the Knicks don’t have a traditional big man under contract, and Smith has said he would like to return.