Paul Pierce sparked a war of words between the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, and J.R. Smith was the latest to respond to the former Boston Celtics star's comments that the Nets will soon own New York.

"I just look at him as a bitter person just getting out of Boston. He doesn't really know what New York is all about. He's been playing in Boston his whole career," Smith said.

"He just knows, just know that his words have consequences and he's going to have to pay for them."

Smith is hoping to be healthy for the start of training camp.

With no NBA out clause, Ivan Johnson has signed a one-year contract with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association, a league source told RealGM.

Johnson, the 6-foot-8 free agent forward, received interest throughout NBA free agency, and his four finalists were the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls, a source said. He decided to accept a more lucrative deal in China – where he spent the 2011 season – instead of continuing to wait for an organization to enhance its offer.

Johnson also is hoping to take advantage of China’s shorter season and return to the States late in the NBA season, when teams will deal with possible injuries and look to add pieces.

There remains strong interest in Johnson, and the 29-year-old took a deal for one season in order to return next year. RealGM first reported on Aug. 16 that Johnson had started to seriously consider leaving the NBA for offers in China and Italy.

Johnson averaged 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds over two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, carving a role as an active, tough big man after bouncing around in his basketball career.

Earl Barron is receiving interest from the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers.

Barron finished last season as a late addition to the Knicks.

Barron went undrafted out of Memphis in 2003 and has appeared with several NBA teams in addition to overseas teams in Puerto Rico, Italy and the Philippines.

The New York Knicks are focused on adding another big man before next season, according to several sources with knowledge of the team’s plans.

Hamed Haddadi worked out for the Knicks earlier this month, before participating in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

The Knicks, according to a source, are intrigued by Haddadi’s size and interior presence.

Haddadi averaged 4.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 13.8 minutes per game for the Phoenix Suns last season.

Dean Meminger, who played for the New York Knicks' championship team in 1973, passed away at the age of 65.

Meminger was found in a hotel room in Upper Manhattan. The cause of death is under investigation but there were no signs of trauma.

Meminger had long battled an addiction to cocaine and had acknowledged using drugs during his NBA career.

Meminger was the Knicks' first round pick in 1971.

Meminger joined other members of the 1973 Knicks team for a ceremony at the Garden on April 5. “There was no one prouder than Dean to be back on the court with his teammates,” Glen Grunwald, the Knicks’ general manager, said in a statement. 

The NBA continues to be in discussions with Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center on hosting All-Star Weekend in 2015.

A decision is expected to be reached in September.

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets would co-host the weekend, with MSG hosting Sunday's game and Barclays hosting events on Friday and Saturday.

“It hasn't been finalized,” one source said Thursday night.

The event could return to New York before 2020 with the venues flipping hosting duties.

Iman Shumpert is unsure and unconcerned about speculation that James Dolan is upset with him for not playing on the New York Knicks' summer league team.

“I don’t know," Shumpert said when asked if Dolan is no longer irritated. "It doesn’t concern me. I got to make sure we go out and play basketball.'

“That’s fine, that’s the media. Things get blown up in this day and age, with social media. It’s crazy. That video got out there and stuff happens. I’m happy to be a Knick. I’m worried about business."

Shumpert is expected to take an elevated role for the Knicks next season.

Andrea Bargnani will not play for Italy in EuroBasket.

Bargnani has been suffering from pneumonia since early August.

Bargnani was traded to the New York Knicks in July.

Raymond Felton has lost 15 pounds since the end of the New York Knicks' season.

Felton played at approximately 212 pounds last season and is encouraged by his new physique.

"I was quick before, but if you take off 15 pounds, you can be that much quicker," Felton said Sunday.

Felton was out of weight and not physically prepared for the season to start after the lockout in 2011 when he joined the Portland Trail Blazers.

Felton is working with trainer Keith Veney.

Raymond Felton fired back at Paul Pierce's comments that the Brooklyn Nets are poised to supplant the Knicks in the standings and in the city of New York.

"They will never take over the city. Because we've got 'New York' on our chest," Felton said Sunday. "They've got 'Brooklyn' on their chest, and we've got 'New York.' They'll never take over the city.

"[Pierce] saying that is just him talking. At the end of the day, it's all about rivalries. We understand that -- he knows that, I know that. He's just trying to fuel it."

Pierce has said his hatred for the Knicks has grown since leaving the Boston Celtics and coming to the Nets.