Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl told ESPN Radio that despite the emergence of Jeremy Lin, he does not see the New York Knicks getting past the first round of the playoffs.

“The thing I don’t like about the situation is all this stuff is happening with very little practice time,” Karl said during an interview with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN Radio Sunday. “I don’t think they’re going to get out of the bottom half of the draw, so I think they’re going to draw one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference (in the playoffs). I’ll be honest with you, I think it’s going to be very difficult for them this year to put the pieces together to figure out how to beat one of those top three or four teams.”

With star forward Carmelo Anthony returning the lineup, some have wondered if the team would be able to carry the same momentum they had built in his absence. New York lost their first game with Anthony back to the New Jersey Nets Monday night. It marked the first time that rising star Jeremy Lin, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and recently acquired guard J.R. Smith have played together.

In Anthony’s absence the Knicks won eight of 10 games. They are currently 16-17, and rank seventh overall in the Eastern Conference.

Both Anthony and Smith played for Karl as members of the Denver Nuggets last year.

The New York Knicks have officially signed ex-Denver Nuggets star J.R. Smith, the team officially announced Friday night, according to ESPN.com.

Smith indicated earlier in the day via Twitter that he was making the move.

Details of the contract have not been released, but the report states that the Knicks have waived forward Renaldo Balkman to free up space.

The New York Knicks are close to making a deal for free agent shooting gaurd J.R. Smith, according to the New York Daily News.

It is believed that Smith will likely receive the Knicks’ $2.5 million exception after his agent met with Knicks chairman James Dolan to finalize a contract.  The Los Angeles Clippers were also believed to be in negotiations with Smith.

Smith signed with a Chinese pro team during the NBA lockout and was obligated to honor the contract until this month. He is now able to sign with the Knicks for the remainder of the season.

Last season with the Nuggets, Smith averaged 12.3 points shooting, 2.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game.  If the deal becomes official, Smith will join the resurging Knicks and his former Nuggets teammate, Carmelo Anthony.