This fall, Chris Smith (brother of Knicks' swingman J.R. Smith) will go through the motions with New York during training camp, and if/when he is waived, the guard is likely to then catch on with the Erie BayHawks--the Knicks' D-League affiliate.
Such a matter is certainly a family affair for the Knickerbockers as they try and do right by J.R. But the lending of a helping hand to someone important to the Knicks family won't stop there, as it just so happens.
Anthony Mason Jr. (son of Knicks' legend Anthony Mason) is reportedly set to join the BayHawks as well this coming season. Having last played in the D-League with Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2011-12, Mason Jr. has since played a bit of international ball, and also showed up on the Miami Heat's NBA Summer League last year.
The young gun returned to his old stomping grounds last week (St. John's University) to officially pick up his diploma, and apparently told the good folks that run the @StJohnsBBall Twitter account that Erie is in fact where he'll be to start the season this year. See below.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/YuNgMaseJr">@YungMaseJr</a> will play in Erie for the <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks">@nyknicks</a> NBA D-League squad to begin this season. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SJUBB&src=hash">#SJUBB</a></p>— StJohnsBasketball (@StJohnsBBall) <a href="https://twitter.com/StJohnsBBall/statuses/382619797126520832">September 24, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Mason Sr. is still a familiar face amongst the Knicks' organization, as well as their fan base. He attended an array of games at MSG last season, and frequently turns up at plenty of related charity events as well.
A NBA D-League veteran of two seasons, Mason Jr. posted career averages of 16.7 points (on 50% from the field and 35% from deep), 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal per contest with the Skyforce.
Editor's Update, October 31st, 2013: Despite his initial assertion, Mason Jr. will in fact go on to attend training camp with the Sioux Falls Skyforce this fall. The team owns his D-League rights from a previous stint.