This trade isn’t about Tim Thomas. As Allan Houston said, “Tim and Keith [Van Horn] are pretty similar.”

Indeed, it’s a lateral move at best at small forward, maybe a downgrade for the Knicks. That’s why Isiah Thomas only wins Sunday’s trade if 6-10 center Nazr Mohammed gives the Knicks the low-post presence and interior defense they haven’t gotten this season from Dikembe Mutombo or Michael Doleac.

The Knick president has said he wouldn’t have done a Van Horn-for-Thomas swap without getting Mohammed, who averaged 4.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 17.7 minutes off the bench for the horrible Hawks.

Wilkens said he won’t decide if Mohammed will supplant Mutombo as the starter, but he had better to justify the deal. Knick execs feel Mutombo has become too limited defensively; he will be shopped until Thursday’s deadline.

Asked about Mohammed’s modest stats, Isiah Thomas said: “It really isn’t a game of numbers when you’re trying to put together a good team. The answer isn’t in the numbers. The intelligence of play is far more greater than any statistical numbers. With Nazy, he’s a smart player down low and he can help us more with his intelligence. Though his intelligence he’ll be able to get a rebound and make a shot.”

One prominent personnel director doesn’t consider Mohammed a legit starting center. “Over the long haul, he’s not a starter,” the official said. “He’s a good player, a nice backup center. He can rebound, defend and score little in the post. But there’s limitations. I think he’s better as a backup but it depends on what’s around you.”

Stephon Marbury enjoyed working the pick-and-roll with Doleac, but he’s finally got a post player in Mohammed. “He demands a post-up presence,” Marbury said. “You just throw the ball in the post. He’s not a bad defender. . . . He can play his natural position [power forward] and not rotate.”

Mohammed’s career hit a brick wall when he suffered a stress fracture last season and played just 35 games. “He’s a pretty accomplished defender, rebounder, scores the ball down low and he’s a good decision-maker with the ball in the post area,” Isiah said. “When you’re injured, you don’t look good.”