JR Smith will need 3-4 months to recover from knee surgery, and he may not be ready at the start of training camp, the New York Knicks announced on Monday.

Smith re-signed with the Knicks on a four-year, $24.7 million deal earlier this month. He had patella tendon surgery and an arthroscopic procedure for a tear of the lateral meniscus in his left knee, the team said.

The Knicks said on Twitter that Smith’s knee problems were chronic and gradually worsened during the season, so they weren’t surprised that the shooting guard needed surgery. They say Smith is expected to be out 12-16 weeks.

You might wonder why the Knicks would sign Smith to such a contract knowing that he had knee problems, and that is a good point. Maybe they figure he should not miss any games and that he will come back better than he was. If I were Smith, I definitely would not rush it; you don’t want to come back before a knee has healed from an operation and then suffer setbacks, which would prolong the recovery. And there actually might be a semi-bright side to this news for Knicks fans; maybe the bad knee is to blame for Smith’s poor shooting performances in the playoffs, not too much clubbing like Rihanna suggested.

Did J.R. Smith hint that he is planning to leave the New York Knicks, or is he only messing with his Twitter followers?

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year tweeted an ominous message on Friday that seemed to imply that he was leaving the team:

It was fun while it lasted…

— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) June 28, 2013

Knowing that his tweet would cause a stir, Smith quickly sent a followup note:

What y'all talking bout? I'm talking bout the talk the cab driver an I just had! #FunnyDude

— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) June 28, 2013

Smith is coming off arguably the best season of his career. He averaged a career-best 18.1 points per game as the Knicks’ sixth man. He officially opted out of his contract with the Knicks — he had a $2.9 million player option — to become a free agent. Teams like the Bucks and Pistons are among the many franchises reportedly interested in Smith. The Knicks also may have drafted some insurance on Thursday when they selected Tim Hardaway Jr. in the draft.

Two years ago, Reggie Bush sent a very similar tweet after the New Orleans Saints drafted Mark Ingram. He ended up released and signed with the Miami Dolphins. Perhaps Smith is on his way out of New York.

H/T NY Post via tipster David

JR Smith said after the New York Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs on Saturday that he wants to retire as a Knick. We can’t say whether or not he’ll be able to fulfill that wish, but it does look like he’ll be able to remain with the team for a while.

The New York Post’s Marc Berman reports that Smith is expected to opt out of his current contract to sign a four-year extension with the team. Berman says that the team could offer Smith around $5 million per season because of their Early Bird rights to him, though we do not know if another team will be able to offer Smith more. Berman also says that Smith and his brother, Chris, who played at Louisville, will be a package deal. Chris Smith was undrafted but played on the Knicks’ Summer League team. He got hurt and was waived before training camp.

The Post also says that Chris Smith has changed agents to Carmelo Anthony’s agent, for what that’s worth.

Chris Smith seems pretty excited about the potential package deal:

I will be back next season along with my big brother @therealjrsmith … Will be a blessing to wear my Knicks uniform.. Prep for 2014 is now

— Chris Smith (@3_ChrisSmith) May 19, 2013

JR Smith played part of 2011-2012 in China after signing there during the lockout. He returned and played the remainder of the season with the Knicks, but he did not receive much free agent interest. He signed a two-year deal for worth around $2.8 million per season prior to this season, and he was named Sixth Man of the Year.

Chest bump to Eye on Basketball