By MARC BERMAN

Does anyone still care about Larry Brown? He held his press conference today at the Wachovia Center to officially announce his appointment as executive VP – a fancy title for being Billy King’s advisor. He actually praised the Knicks, praised David Lee and Eddy Curry. So how come you didn’t play them?

Brown also denied he’s looking to coach Sixers, which is tough to believe. Here’s transcript of today’s press conference, courtesy of the Sixers sharp beat writer, Caryl Kauffman, of the Daily Local News in Westchester, Pa. Kauffman noted Brown looked lots older than the last time she saw him last season.

LB: It’s fun. We moved our family back here on Labor Day so they could get back in school. We love Philadelphia and it was great working here. It’s fun being back with Billy and Mo.

Q: How do you see role?

LB: I’m just here to help in any way they want. I’ve been in the league a long time. I’ve been involved with Billy forever and in whatever area they want me to help I’ll be happy to help. I wouldn’t be here unless it was OK with Billy and Mo. I

just want to see us get better.

Q: Describe role before.

LB: I went to one game. I saw us play Miami with my family. It was fun just watching. And I went to one practice early in the year. I’m happy I’m back doing something. I feel like I’ve got a lot to offer and I was always treated great here. So I just want to contribute in any way I can.

Q: Do you want to coach again?

LB: At this moment, no. I didn’t come here to be involved in the coaching. I don’t know. After last year I think I need to step away from coaching for awhile and I’m 66. I don’t know if that’s what I’m looking to do. Right now my whole goal is to help Billy and Mr. Snider and just see what area I can be of value.

Q: Keeping up with Knicks

LB: I keep up with everybody in the league.

Q: What do you think about team?

LB: They added Jeffries. I thought the draft they had they got two quality kids. Eddy Curry’s healthy. I think they’re gonna get better and better. David Lee’s played great. They’ve got a good young group. And I think they’ve done a great job, and the way this division’s going you win two in a row you could be in first place.

Q: How do you assess your one season with Knicks?

LB: I’m not looking back. I’m moving on. That’s over.

Q: Would you be here if AI was still here?

LB: Oh yeah. No doubt. If you know Doug Moe and George Karl, they’re two pretty close friends of mine. So I don’t think they would have traded for Allen if I didn’t tell them they were getting a terrific player. I think the thing that excites me now is that Allen has a chance to win and we have a chance to rebuild. It’s a unique situation right now. It feels like my first season. I hope Allen can have the success he deserves and that we can build up into something this city can be proud of.

Q: How much of a role did you have in trading Allen?

LB: I just listened to Billy and Tony and they threw things by me. But it was really their decision. I just gave them opinions about players when they asked me. I generally sat there and listened. It wasn’t easy. When a player says he wants to be traded, it’s pretty difficult. I was just more or less there for them if they needed me.

Q: Was it hard to be away, or did you really need that?

LB: No, it wasn’t hard at all. I was having a great time. It was the first time I ever spent Thanksgiving with my family. It was the first time I ever went on a vacation for Christmas. I got to take my kids to school everyday and pick them up. The only thing that was hard was I missed being at practice and I missed being in the locker room. I watched a lot of the colleges practice and that was fun. No, I didn’t miss coaching at all.

Q: Do you want to go back at some point?

LB: I am back.

Q: I mean, go back away from this?

LB: We’re happy of being back in Philly. We’re tired of moving our kids. They’re going to graduate. So this is a perfect situation for me. This is a great environment. Again, I spent six years here and they were pretty incredible years as far as that was concerned.

Q: Where will you be on game nights?

LB: I watch every game on TV and I’m a nervous wreck. I care about the people and Mo was an assistant for me. I got to coach him. I love him. And I feel for him.

Q: What about in the arena on game nights?

LB: As far away as I can. If I go to games, I’ll be up in the stands with Billy. I want to be out on the road watching other people coach, watching other players play, so I can be useful. If anybody needs me in a capacity, hopefully I’ll be there to help.

Q: Will you be happy in a role where you’re just overseeing things and not being as involved like you were for 30-some-odd years?

LB: I’ve been happy the last six months, so I don’t see why? I enjoy watching our team grow, working with Billy. The greatest thrill I have now is watching John Calipari (Memphis), Bill Self (Kansas), and Mark Turgeon and Gregg Popovich, and Mo and people like that coach. And Mike Woodson. I get a lot of satisfaction out of that. I’ve been at Villanova. I’ve watched Bruiser (Flint) coach (at Drexel). That’s enough for me right now.