PJ Tucker’s final 10-day contract expired without a new deal — at least not yet.
The veteran wing, who wasn’t with the Knicks for Sunday’s game against the Blazers, is a strong candidate to re-sign at a later date, an NBA source told The Post.
The Knicks have eight games remaining after Sunday.
Since he already used up two 10-day deals, Tucker now is eligible only for a standard contract that would keep him with the club through the playoffs.
In the meantime, the Knicks can sign other free agents to 10-day contracts.
Tucker, 39, only logged two minutes of garbage time in his 20 days with the Knicks.
A source said Tucker understood upon signing that playing time wasn’t guaranteed.
But he was pitched as a positive locker room presence, specifically for his leadership and experience on a younger roster.
“A lot of times when you become a vet and be in the league, like young guys and stuff on the bench, they’re not going to [encourage and motivate teammates]. They’re not going to have your back like that,” Tucker said when he first signed on March 10. “So it’s always good to have vets and like-minded guys that just have each other’s back. And that’s what really makes a team strong — just knowing that they have people there and I support you whether you’re playing good or bad. We’re in it together.”
After hoping for a call-up from the G-League that didn’t come, T.J. Warren left the Westchester Knicks earlier this month, NBA sources told The Post.
Warren was Westchester’s top scorer, averaging nearly 23 points, but hasn’t logged a game for the club since March 11, one day after Leon Rose filled an empty roster spot with Tucker on his first 10-day deal.
Warren was on the training camp and preseason Knicks roster in October, but didn’t make the final cut.
Miles McBride is “close” to returning after missing his fifth straight game Sunday with a groin contusion/strain, according to Tom Thibodeau.
Still, the coach said he didn’t know whether McBride started sprinting and continued to label the guard “day to day.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s sprinting,” Thibodeau said. “But he’s close. So we’ll see.”
With Cam Payne also a DNP — his second straight because of a sprained ankle — the Knicks again started Delon Wright at point guard against the Blazers.
