Knicks can’t deal Smith until mid-January

J.R. Smith — unlike almost every other free agent who signed in July — did not become eligible to be traded Sunday, the traditional Dec. 15 marker.

Under a quirk in the new collective bargaining agreement, Smith is eligible to be traded Jan. 15 and the way things are going, the Knicks would have to explore it.

Smith is one of seven free agents signed in July who won’t become trade eligible for another month because their teams are over the salary cap and they signed for 120 percent more than their prior season’s salary.