KNICK NOTES

No offense, Toni Kukoc, but Larry Johnson digs “the young fella.”

The “young fella” is ex-Sixer Larry Hughes, whom Philly sent to Golden State in a three-team deal to obtain Kukoc, regarded as the small-forward savior in Cheesesteak City.

All of Philly thinks the addition of Kukoc makes the Sixers (30-24) Atlantic Division title contenders as it finally gives the club a second scoring option to complement the league’s leading scorer, Allen Iverson (30.2 ppg).

LJ, who faces the ex-Bull today at the Garden, isn’t too sure the Sixers have helped themselves with the trade.

“I haven’t seen them with Kukoc but I liked the young fella with them myself,” Johnson said of Hughes. “The way they play trapping, swarming defense, I like the young fella basically. But I haven’t seen them with Kukoc.”

Kukoc, the sixth man, is averaging 11 points in his four games as a Sixer. Johnson will guard him on occasion. So will Kurt Thomas. This is where the Knicks miss Marcus Camby.

“Camby in the past has played Kukoc well,” Jeff Van Gundy said. “Whenever we’ve played Chicago, that’s been our thought, keeping bigger guys on him.”

Actually, Hughes has burned the Knicks recently much more than Kukoc but Van Gundy believes the Sixers have improved. Or so he says for public consumption.

“Over time, you’ll see them get better and better,” Van Gundy said. “He is an offensive weapon in the post, gives them perimeter shooting that they didn’t have before. They have more offense and they’re still a great defensive team.”

Van Gundy will cross his fingers and start the big backcourt against speedy Iverson today.

“I’m a little worried,” said Van Gundy, who has used the big lineup since starting point guard Charlie Ward got hurt. “They’re a pressure team. They’re probably going to salivate from Philadelphia all the way up just wanting to get at our ballhandling. We’ll see how well it works.

“If you’re going to start a point guard, it would be [today] because of the pressure. I’m sort of looking forward to see how we do.”

Latrell Sprewell will guard Iverson in halfcourt sets … Marcus Camby (knee) was not well enough to practice yesterday. If he hits his target return of Thursday or Friday, he’d only have one practice under his belt at most.

“He can play without practicing if he wants,” Van Gundy said. “I don’t care about that.”.

Van Gundy on Larry Johnson’s offensive slump since returning from foot injury five games ago: “Obviously he’s not shooting the ball particularly well right now. But I look at his shots and think they’re the right shots. I think the ball will go in the basket for him. He has to have as much confidence in himself as we have in him that he can score.”

LJ is averaging 7.6 points in the five games … Starting time today was moved from noon to 3 p.m. so NBC can showcase Toronto star Vince Carter.