Though Howard Eisley lost his starting job in Dallas last season to Steve Nash, he was content as a Maverick, and even started building a new home there. His trade to the Knicks was shocking, considering they already had two credible, playoff-savvy point guards in Mark Jackson and Charlie Ward.

But instead of complaining about the situation, Eisley is out to prove he deserves to be one of the two point guards to earn Jeff Van Gundy’s trust when training camp begins Monday.

“It’s something I can’t control,” Eisley told The Post earlier this week. “Coach Van Gundy is going to have to make that decision. I just have to go out and do the things I do well on the floor. I want to try to fit in. I’m not going here and try to stand out and say the Knicks need me to do XYZ.”

Eisley’s advantage over Jackson and Ward is being the superior 3-point shooter of the trio. Mavericks coach Don Nelson believes Eisley, too, will make a smoother adjustment to the Knicks’ half-court game than former Dallas guard Erick Strickland, who loved Nellie’s up-tempo offense and struggled with Van Gundy’s deadened pace. Eisley’s preference for a deliberate offense is one reason Nelson dealt him.

“Going from system to system with a new coach is going to be different, but how big I’m not sure,” Eisley said.

The Knicks have tried to erase the point-guard glut by shopping Ward, who was nearly dealt to Golden State. But a 15-percent trade kicker that would bring his salary to $6 million and an arthritic knee has smashed his trade value.

To make a Ward deal more attractive, the Knicks could try to shop the $3 million injury exception they obtained via Luc Longley’s retirement, but it has to be used by Monday. The point-guard trio will combine to earn $14 million this season.

“Both [Jackson and Ward] are very good players,” Eisley said. “It’s not our decision who plays or who doesn’t. We’re all going to play to our strengths and that’s going to be coach Van Gundy’s decision.”