NBA

Dolan feared losing turf war to Prokhorov

In retrospect, the NBA botched a cherry-picking chance in October to launch a reality show staring Carmelo Anthony.

Ratings would have exceeded most games. Bravo could have aired it. Sponsors would have paid premium paper. And the teams willing to genuflect most often at Anthony’s altar would’ve shared in the revenue — something the league and the players’ union should think about incorporating into the new collective-bargaining agreement.

Not even Hosni Mubarak or Jerry Sloan, sure to soon be contestants on “Dancing With The Stars,” could hope to attract a larger (more fed-up) audience.

This ‘Melo-drama began so long ago, the ink was barely dry on Anthony’s first tattoo. It finally — finally! — ended last night with James Dolan winning the trophy superstar, and Mikhail Prokhorov heading home with some lovely parting gifts, if not the title of Comrade Congeniality.

The Nets’ Carmelo cravings were perfectly understandable, correct? Limbering up for Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season, they were on a manhunt for someone to give them an instant identity, a serial scorer to create inside and outside nightmare matchups.

The Knicks already had quite enough scorers, notably Amar’e Stoudemire; their priority should not have been another (potentially conflicting . . . the 2011 version of Bob McAdoo and Spencer Haywood?) nightmare matchup. Their prominent voids are defense, rebounding and rim protecting.

But, as anyone with a sense of Knicks history knows, the organization, long before owner Dolan polluted the premises, has almost always been about deep-sea fishing expeditions and taking pictures of prized catches at the end of the dock.

That was a major part of this deal too, no doubt. Nevertheless, what mattered most to Dolan, I’m convinced, was not losing such an alluring specimen to Prokhorov. It was very important to Dolan, extremely personal, to win the turf war against his Russian rival.

Was Isiah Thomas prodding Dolan to do whatever it takes? There’s no question Dolan was following his unofficial consultant’s advice to fillet the franchise, which is why Knicks president Donnie Walsh was benched during the latest negotiations — an indignity that has incensed team executives throughout the league.

It’s one thing for Mark Cuban to step past Donnie Nelson when trade or free-agent signings bog down, it’s quite another for Dolan to take command and evaluate talent swaps . . . unless Thomas is whispering in his ear phone.

Not only did Dolan meet one-on-one with Anthony, but recently he became the hands-on flesh dealer with Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke and general manager Masai Ujiri. Very Cuban-ish. He was doing the bargaining. And he was the one willing to give Denver nearly everything it has asked for . . . in opposition to those being paid for their personnel expertise, namely Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni.

That’s what I’m told by those in the know. Their contention completely contradicts the propaganda pamphlet the Knicks released Sunday claiming the owner, president and coach were on the same wave length regarding the player exchange . . . and that Dolan’s thinking and actions were not being influenced by people (Thomas) outside the organization.

“Why would the Knicks put out that statement?” one general manager declared. “Denying it like that only confirms what’s being written is true.”

Those close to D’Antoni strongly hint he might not want Anthony under any circumstances, but definitely was against surrendering so much — Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, in particular — in the process.

“Mike is well aware Stoudemire and Anthony are not a good fit,” said a D’Antoni confidant. “At either end.”

While there’s a chance Anthony and Stoudemire can work things out offensively, there’s not a chance that happens defensively. If they’re stationed at center and power forward and Stoudemire goes to block a shot, Anthony will be abused on the switch to the five.

“Worse yet,” explained a GM, “when ‘Melo plays three, he’s not a willing chaser. All his man has to do is run him through picks and he immediately yells ‘switch.’ ”

This all leads me to wonder, if things go bad, how is Isiah going to blame it on Larry Brown? Meaning Walsh and D’Antoni are in deep trouble.

If the Knicks succeed, Isiah will tell Dolan, “I told you this will work.” If it fails, he’ll tell him it’s time to change management. “And I’m your reset button.”

peter.vecsey@nypost.com