NBA

Knicks put out APB for new guard

Aside from Mr. Big, the Knicks are scouring the topography for a third point guard who doesn’t have to earn coach Mike D’Antoni’s respect but already has it.

That rules out everyone in the Development League except Texas Legends coach Nancy Lieberman and perhaps her valued crutch Antonio Daniels.

Free agents Flip Murray, adept at handling both backcourt positions, and consummate professional Anthony Johnson can be had for the veteran’s minimum.

I have no idea what D’Antoni or Donnie Walsh think of A.J. Price, but the Pacers reserve is a rarely seen favorite of mine; he stays sharp backing up Darren Collison and T.J. Ford and almost always seems to deliver no matter how little time he gets or how many games (four and counting) between assignments.

Previous reports identify Timberwolf Sebastian Telfair as a distinct option. His clear-cut availability, experience and versatility, especially long distance dialing (18-of-47 on 3-pointers vs. 3-of-12 for Price) make him attractive.

The snag is, Telfair makes $2.7 million, and the player they’d probably want to swap for him is Roger Mason, whose salary slot is $1.4 million.

Of course, this is the NBA and such financial arrangements are easily solved. It appears the T’Wolves are looking to free up a roster spot and therefore wouldn’t mind buying out Telfair, who could make up the lost loot by signing a vet minimum contract . . . and the Knicks could release Mason or Andy Rautins, though that’s unlikely.

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Column contributor Gregg Siegel finds the Orlando trades amusing.

“It’s like those white elephant Christmas party gift exchanges where everybody brings some piece of [junk] knickknack that they can’t wait to get out of their house and pawn off on their friends. Everybody thinks it is funny until you get home and realize you’re stuck with somebody else’s Chia Pet.

“In this case, I’m pretty sure Hedo Turkoglu is the garden gnome, Rashard Lewis is the macramé plant holder, Vince Carter is the broken cuckoo clock, and Gilbert Arenas is a cracked pot. One man’s garbage with a terrible contract is . . . well, another man’s garbage with a terrible contract.”

A lot of people still can’t get over the Lewis part of the deal. He’s the second highest paid player in the NBA (Kobe‘s No. 1 at $24.8 million) and has still has $36 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, including $15 million of last year’s $22.699 million.

Granted, the Wizards save $25 million or so by uncoupling Arenas.

“I get that,” declares a long-valued voice of reason. “And if Orlando was the sole taker, so be it. At least Shards is a decent dude. Being from Texas he probably limits his armory to shotguns.

“Still, Gilbert was one of the maybe 10 best players in the league just a couple years ago. He had unlimited range and will to take the last shot — and the second to last and the next 15 before that — but made a ton of them. Presumably, he could make a revival.”

Anything’s possible, I suppose. Turkoglu also could suddenly decide to work on his game, but short of those two really getting their acts back in order, the Magic are on the hook for a chunk of cheddar on both counts through 20103-14 . . . and Dwight Howard has an escape clause in 2012.

Things are pretty bleak, I submit, when most observers feel Arenas’ chances of re-blooming are greater than Turkoglu’s. The fact agent Lon Babby, the guy who negotiated Turkoglu’s $52 million, five-year free agent deal with the Raptors, couldn’t wait to get him out of Phoenix (and clean up the mess made by owner Robert Sarver and coach Alvin Gentry) soon after becoming Suns president says it all . . . except explain why Magic president Otis Smith, who gagged at the notion of paying Turkoglu the above bundle (keep in mind he was at his best when Jameer Nelson went down prior to the ’08-09 playoffs and the ball belonged to him at crunch time), is now willing to do it 1½ seasons later.

Particularly in view of the host of horror stories being spread about Hedo in Toronto, Phoenix and at the World Championship.

By all accounts, Turkoglu failed as a much-needed role model for his host Turkish national team that finished second to Team USA. Instead he demonstrated a pronounced lack of leadership. Rather than work hard, an obligation of every Worlds competitor, sources say Hedo adopted the role of “prima donna.”

This came as no surprise to his Raptors teammates or management. Not surprisingly, there was friction among the Suns’ troops as well. Goran Dragic nearly came to blows with Turkoglu. More significantly, Steve Nash told Gentry while he liked Hedo he did not enjoy playing with him, according to MannyLeaks.

Despite Sunday’s short-sheeted roster in Oklahoma City (dressed 11, including a couple from either the D-League or the League of Women Voters, and played nine) the Suns were more upbeat than I’ve seen them all season as they gutted out a three-point win.

Nobody was more on the ball than 38-year-old Grant Hill (30 points and 10 boards), who played like he was half my age.

The Wizards also were undermanned against the Heat and almost won anyway. I was in awe of their play down the stretch. We’re talking missed free throws, abysmal clock management and fouling a 3-point shooter. All that was lacking was too many players on the field.

Is there not player who can think on his feet (or coach who can teach it) when his team leads by three and game-ending circumstances dictate an intentional foul to avoid a possible stalemate? I’m longing to witness just one player fake fouling an opponent beyond the arc/near halfcourt and back off as the guy lifts up in hopes of conning the ref into giving him three shots — which is happening more than you want to know.

This just in: Orlando informs us Arenas passed his physical. His mental is a whole other story.

peter.vecsey@nypost.com