KNICK NOTES

Toronto GM Glen Grunwald, Lenny Wilkens’ last boss, said he fired the Hall-of-Famer after last season because the Raptors needed a new “approach.”

Grunwald said he had no problems with Wilkens’ methods of lighter practices and a lighter touch with the players but said. “We needed a different approach, not that one approach is better or worse. We needed a different approach to try to get the franchise turned back around.

“To quote the great Larry Bird, ‘a coach’s tenure is three years.’ There’s some truth to that. We really needed to get the franchise back on track. We needed a change.”

The Raptors floundered to a 24-58 record but were beset by numerous injuries, including one to Vince Carter, who missing nearly half the season.

“It was a disaster because of all the injuries we had,” Grunwald said. “Lenny has a system that’s been successful when he has had the players.”

Wilkens said there were times he didn’t have enough healthy bodies to stage a legitimate practice.

“That was the most frustrating experience I’ve ever had,” Wilkens said.

Toronto newspapers also ran a Wilkens Watch as he zeroed in on the status of most losses as any NBA coach. Wilkens also has the most wins, with a career record of 1,292-1,114.

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Pat Riley was on Isiah Thomas’ wish list, the Knick boss confirmed . . . A friend of Mike Fratello‘s refuted reports that negotiations broke down because he wanted too much money, too many years and too much power.

“It never came down to a contract,” the friend said.

However, the notion that Mark Aguirre would be part of the assistant staff was indeed a turn-off to Fratello. The Knicks say talks with Fratello hadn’t advanced to negotiations.

Wilkens plans to bring in two more assistants – with his long-time sidekick Dick Helm the leading candidate. He is 70 years old but has been Wilkens’ assistant in Seattle, Cleveland, Atlanta and Toronto.