SALT LAKE CITY — You can say Knicks owner James Dolan had a heart of gold in letting Amar’e Stoudemire leave the moribund Knicks and join Western Conference title contender Dallas. And you may want to emphasize “gold.’’

As it turns out, Dolan saved a lot of gold in his buyout of Stoudemire during the All-Star break — a whopping $6.25 million on his payroll, according to NBA sources.

According to sources familiar with the agreement, Stoudemire gave up $2.5 million in his settlement with the Knicks. Add in the $3.75 million in luxury tax on that $2.5 million and Dolan’s savings is huge for excusing Stoudemire from playing out the string with the league-worst Knicks. (The Knicks are in the tax bracket in which they pay 1.5 percent for every dollar over the luxury-tax threshold.)

In essence it was just a $2 million loss for Stoudemire, who was in the final year (at $23.5 million) of his $100 million contract.

The knee-challenged power forward will recoup $500,000 in salary from the Mavericks, who signed him to the prorated $1.4 million veteran’s minimum so he could help them compete for a title.

For Dolan, though, it was a big coup despite the fact he’s now putting out an inferior product with Carmelo Anthony also out for the season.

It has helped ease his substantial player payroll that — with luxury tax included — now ranks 10th-highest in the league at $87 million.

That’s $87 million for a club with the NBA’s worst record at 12-50 entering Tuesday night’s game with the Jazz. Clearly it gives new meaning to “the worst team money can buy,” especially when you factor in new president Phil Jackson’s record-setting $12 million yearly wage and rookie coach Derek Fisher’s nearly $4 million salary.

Had Dolan not made the move with Stoudemire, the Knicks’ payroll would have been in the top five. It stands at $80.8 million — going up slightly with the Alexey Shved-for-Pablo Prigioni trade-deadline exchange. On $80.8 million, Dolan will fork over about $6 million in luxury tax for his dozen wins.

There are some surprises when adding up the salary figures for this season. Dolan is being charged for the contracts of three players who never suited up in a game for the Knicks — Arnett Moultrie, Alex Kirk and Jordan Vandenburg.

The Knicks traded for Moultrie at the end of training camp to dispatch Travis Outlaw to the Sixers. That was done so Jackson could keep undrafted rookie Travis Wear, who hasn’t progressed. Jackson obtained Kirk as a throw-in from January’s fire-sale trade with Cleveland and Oklahoma City. Jackson also signed Vandenberg to a small guarantee in preseason so they could obtain his D-League rights for Westchester.

On the flip side of the payroll picture is the Sixers, who hold a two-game lead over the Knicks in the standings. Philadelphia has spent most of the season below the minimum allowable payroll, tanking the right way.

Meanwhile, Jackson hasn’t spoken to the media since right after the All-Star break when he announced Anthony’s season-ending knee surgery. Jackson is expected to join the Knicks in Los Angeles Wednesday as the club will face the Lakers in Fisher’s first game against his former team at Staples Center.

Fisher, whose Knicks fell 87-82 to the Jazz Tuesday, has had to field most of the bullets as Jackson stays away from the road.

Jackson has had advice for Fisher on handling this impossible period, even though Jackson has never had a losing season as coach — let alone this catastrophe.

After Monday’s 106-78 loss in Denver gave the Knicks their 50th loss with 20 games to go, Fisher said the Knicks “weren’t consistent to our commitment’’ and didn’t show “mental toughness.’’

“[Jackson’s] just encouraging me and all of us to stay focused on teaching, coaching and holding guys accountable and make sure we’re not examples of checking out and going through the motions,’’ Fisher said. “They have to see us as still engaged and passionate and holding people accountable every day in practice, shootarounds, games.

“That’s what we’re trying to do. He’s been supportive in that regard. I didn’t expect otherwise. We know better days are ahead and we’ll get there.’’