KNICK NOTES

Isiah Thomas said he had “interest” in Vin Baker but hasn’t decided whether he actually will pursue the ex-Celtic, who becomes a free agent tomorrow.

Baker clears waivers tomorrow but still hasn’t been cleared to play after repeated violations of his aftercare program. He can be signed to a 10-day contract but it doesn’t appear Baker is the right fit right now, especially with the addition of Nazr Mohammed, the low-post big man the Knicks didn’t have.

“My job is to be interested in anyone who can play at the NBA level,” Isiah said. “That’s not to say I want him. But definitely my job is to be interested and, yes, I’m interested.”

Thomas said his brother, Ronnie, died of alcoholism.

“I’ve had family members who’ve dealt with the disease he’s dealing with,” Thomas said. “I have a certain sensitivity. It’s a terrible disease. I had people in my family die from that disease. It’s a terrible disease.”

“I’m not saying we’re going to do this,” Thomas said. “I will caution you. Leon Smith visited and you went way out.”

Asked how he will go about researching Baker, Thomas said, “I didn’t say I’m going to go about it. You have me with him already. Like you had me signing Leon and Eddie Griffin. The guys I’ve traded for are much different than some guys you’ve linked me getting.”

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Thomas walked up to Dikembe Mutombo during free-throw drills yesterday and talked to him briefly. Suffice it to say, Thomas didn’t tell him he won’t be traded by Thursday’s deadline.

In the wake of obtaining Mohammed, Thomas gave a weak, clipped endorsement of Mutombo yesterday. Asked if he has a bright future, Thomas paused and said, “He has a bright future.” When asked if it was with the Knicks, he said, after another awkward pause, “I would say so.”

Thomas will shop Mutombo around the league but with his $4 million salary, the Knicks may only get back an overpaid underachiever and a much-needed draft pick in return.

“He told me just to play basketball and stay away from what’s going on,” Mutombo said. “Futurewise, I leave that to the man upstairs.”

Isiah even called shot-blocking “an overrated” statistic yesterday, when he was referring to Mohammed’s paltry blocked-shot numbers. (Mutombo is fourth in league history in blocks).