BOSTON — The in-season NBA trade market finally kicked off this week with forward Rui Hachimura moving from the Wizards to the Lakers in the first domino of what could be a flurry of activity across the league ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline.

Knicks president Leon Rose has a few ways to approach the deadline with his team in firm contention for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, vying for a coveted top-six position to avoid the 7-10 play-in tournament.

Tuesday’s slump-busting win over the fifth-place Cavaliers at the Garden, of course, came against the star player the Knicks pursued but did not obtain last summer: pending All-Star starter Donovan Mitchell. That the Westchester product’s potential game-tying drive to the basket was denied by Isaiah Hartenstein in the closing seconds had to make ending a four-game losing skid a tad sweeter for the Knicks, who decided to hold onto their young players — including Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin — and their trove of draft picks for future potential deals.

As The Post’s Zach Braziller detailed Wednesday, the Knicks also have been seeking to find takers for the banished Cam Reddish and the onerous contract owed Evan Fournier. And Derrick Rose certainly could be moved or bought out.