KNICK NOTES

While Eddy Curry said publicly he doesn’t want to leave the Bulls, his best friend Jamal Crawford said if he is traded, the Knicks would be a sweet destination.

“He needs a change of scenery. But that’s my opinion,” Crawford said. “He loves New York, I’d love to play with him again.”

The Knicks need a center, and Curry said yesterday his agent made a mistake by requesting a trade.

“No way do I want to leave Chicago, under no circumstances,” Curry said.

The Knicks were big longshots in the Curry sweepstakes and got rejected last summer. But Isiah may be in better position for a sign-and-trade when Curry becomes a free agent this summer.

Crawford says Curry was his best friend on the Bulls and two days ago they talked about the Knicks. The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday the Knicks offered Nazr Mohammed and were rejected.

The only player the Bulls would want is Michael Sweetney and Isiah won’t part with him. The five years left on Kurt Thomas’ contract is likely too much for the miserly Bulls and they’ll get better offers.

GM John Paxson realizes Curry’s trade value is way down and won’t part with him now until his stock is back up. The Tribune reported that, among others, Memphis, Denver, Phoenix, Minnesota, the Knicks and Lakers made offers.

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Jerome Williams said the Knicks don’t need an Eddie Robinson type, an offensive dynamo, but a mediocre defender. With Indiana’s bizarre treatment of Ron Artest, the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year figures to be available.

Isiah has strong interest in Artest, whom he coached in Indiana and righted his career. The Knicks will take on the Pacers tonight at Conseco Field House.

The native New Yorker was benched for two games after asking for a leave of absence, worn down from promoting an upcoming rap CD. He’s threatened to retire once he wins a title.

Kurt Thomas would have to be the pawn. One reported scenario had the Pacers, Wolves and Knicks hooking up in a three-way deal in which Thomas winds up in Minnesota and Wally Szczerbiak in Indiana.

Artest is the fierce defender the Knicks need. Yesterday, Williams wondered whether Robinson would have been the right fit.

“I think this team has to focus on defense,” Williams said. “I don’t make those kind of decisions, but we do need defense. Quote me on that.”

“There’s not really anybody out here, outside of Kurt Thomas who’s known for defense,” Williams added. “Let’s be real. Look at the names of all these guys up here. I see a lot of scorers. I se a lot of guys who could flat-out put up numbers. They’re not known for guys who’re ging to lock someone up.”