Antoine Wright compares himself to a “Ray Allen-type or Paul Pierce.” The Knicks will take either.

Wright, a 6-foot-7 junior shooting guard from Texas A&M, is scheduled to work out for the Knicks today.

Four weeks ago, Wright, who averaged 17.8 points on 50 percent shooting, was considered a mid- to late-first-round pick. After a half-dozen impressive workouts for NBA teams, he’s risen into lottery contention, with the Knicks considering him at No. 8.

“I can definitely come in right away and impact, scoring-wise,” Wright told The Post at last week’s Chicago pre-draft camp.

Knick President Isiah Thomas will take either a wing player (SG/SF) or center, assuming the Knicks stay at No. 8. Thomas views the swingman position as a dire need because of Allan Houston’s and Penny Hardaway’s uncertain status, and small forward Tim Thomas as trade bait.

“You love the fact he’s a 6-7, 2-guard who can really shot the ball,” Raptor director of player personnel Pete Babcock said. “He’s really improved this year. His defense improved dramatically.”

Said Wright: “I feel I’ve been able to go into the workouts and show them what I can do. They haven’t really been able to see me that much at Texas A&M. They’ve been surprised.”

Seattle high-school SG Martell Webster, New Mexico SF Danny Granger and, if he falls, Houston high-schooler Gerald Green, are on the Knicks’ radar if Thomas takes a wing man.

*

At least Mike Saunders goes out with a bang. Saunders, the Knicks’ trainer for 27 years, was recently reassigned to a less visible front-office post. Yesterday, he won the league’s 2005 Athletic Trainer of the Year, voted by the NBA’s trainer association.

*

Players Association Director Billy Hunter, in Detroit to discuss the potential lockout, sounded as if he was lobbying Knick owner James Dolan. Hunter pointed out the proposed “super tax” – an even nastier version of the luxury tax – would knock the Knicks dead.

The “super tax” proposal charges high-payroll clubs two times for every dollar over a threshold. The luxury tax was a 1-for-1 tax. The Knicks next season could have a payroll of $111 million, with Hunter estimating they could pay a $70 million tax.

“Even for the New York Knicks, that would be prohibitive,” Hunter said. “They can’t exist with that kind of strain.”