By MARC BERMAN

Showing no ill effects from losing Jerome James in a trade, the Knicks pummeled the Raptors tonight in posting their largest margin of victory, 127-97.

I’ve seen soft teams, but never as soft as these Toronto Raptors. With Nate Robinson doing his hot-dog act well into the fourth quarter despite a 30-plus point bulge, the Raptors refused to lay a hard foul on the 5-7½ Robinson. Maybe Sunday.

Chris Bosh, whose hurt, looked like he’d rather be anywhere else but a Raptor uniform. He’s a free agent in 2010.

The Knicks surely looked pumped by the trades. The Knicks had heard enough about 2010 on Nov. 21st when Donnie Walsh first struck. Three months later, the Knicks made deals for now. That genuinely excited the players and they were all on top of their games, making me believe April in Florida will matter. Wilson Chandler and Nate Robinson were beasts.

The Knicks moved two games out of the eighth seed with the Bucks’ loss to Cleveland in matching their win total from last season (23). The Knicks are so in the moment, Mike D’Antoni acknowledged prized rookie Danilo Gallinari could fall out of the rotation. There are 10 suitable men now for nine slots. Blasphemy.

“We’re trying to make the playoffs,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll play the best players for our rotation. If he’s part of that , fine, If not, that’ what the summer’s for.”

The organization realizes finishing in the lottery has no benefits. They’d have a 2 percent chance of moving into the top three in a draft that doesn’t boast a starry top three. The difference between 13 and 18 is minimal. Making the playoffs the next two years would earn respect and establish themselves to the 2010 free agent class.

Meanwhile, Hughes and Wilcox come with plenty of baggage. Why else would the Knicks be able to get them for two of the worst free-agent signings in Knick history – James and Anthony Roberson. Check out my Saturday special piece on two personnel men breaking down Hughes/Wilcox.

Hughes makes Jamal Crawford look gun-shy. Kudos to Howard Beck of the Gray Lady for discovering a Cleveland website entitled:

Heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com.

“I’ll only worry if it happens with the Knicks,” D’Antoni said.

Picked this one up from MSG Network’s star reporter Jill Martin. Hughes can’t wear his No. 32 because Cuttino Mobley technically still has it. The Knicks haven’t waived him yet. Hughes will don 0 – as in what they gave up to get him.

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Chris Wilcox recalled holding a public pre-draft workout in 2002 at the Garden staged by then manager Rock Newman of boxing fame. “I thought I was going to be a Knick,” Wilcox said…Italian Public Television was covering the Italian Heritage Night pitting Gallinari vs. Andrea Bargnani. D’Antoni even has his dry wit in a foreign language, saying in his best Italian how much he hates Gallinari and his father…Walsh said he’s preparing for a showdown with Marbury at Tuesday’s arbitration hearing on his $400,000 fine. Marbury is willing to drop the appeal if they release him. Just don’t understand what the Knicks are so afraid of. If Walsh really thought Marbury could help Boston, then shame on him for not thinking he could’ve helped the Knicks this season. Funny that D’Antoni said today he won’t judge Hughes on his past…Heading to Buffalo tomorrow morning for Rangers-Sabres with friends and then it’s on to Oh Canada – the best national anthem there is.