NBA

Walsh says Knicks can get two first-round picks

Knicks president Donnie Walsh, while being asked about Anthony Randolph’s situation before yesterday’s 129-121 loss to the Suns, said he feels he “probably” could acquire two first-round picks if he wanted.

The remark raised eyebrows because the Nuggets require two first-round picks in any Carmelo Anthony trade. For now, the Knicks are on the outside looking in waiting — and hoping — the Nets’ deal crashes. The Nuggets would get two first-rounders — and possibly a third — from the Nets in a proposed trade.

As reported exclusively in The Post, agent Bill Duffy told Walsh in a meeting Friday that Randolph, out of the rotation since mid-November, is interested in getting traded.

The Post reported earlier this week Walsh was waffling on whether to include the disgruntled forward in a deal with Minnesota for a first-round pick. The Knicks are not allowed to trade their 2011 pick under league rules because teams can’t go two straight years without one.

“I believe I can [get a first-rounder],” Walsh reiterated. “I’ll let you guys figure it out.”

When asked if he can get more than one, Walsh retorted, “I can probably get more than one. I’m not going to say how many. But I’m confident I can get a first-round pick.”

Indiana and Portland also have been mentioned as possibilities for Randolph.

The Knicks possibly can get a second first-rounder in a cash deal in which they pay a team the maximum allowable $3 million. The Knicks acquired a first-rounder from the Lakers for $3 million in the 2009 draft and used it on Toney Douglas.

Walsh said he hasn’t decided if he’ll trade Randolph but it seems likely because he is off coach Mike D’Antoni’s radar.

“I’ve talked to Billy,” Walsh said. “He knows I like Anthony’s game. We’ll do what’s right for the kid. We got to see what happens.

“[Duffy] wants to know what the plan is. We like him. If he doesn’t play we’ll have to address it.”

Walsh said he did not speak about Anthony with his agent, Leon Rose, who visited the Garden on Friday, but if Anthony rejects the Nets, the Knicks are in play because they are by far his first choice.

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Randolph, who can be fined for saying he wants to be traded, said after yesterday’s DNP: “I play for the New York Knicks, that’s the bottom line right now,” Randolph said. “I try to get better every day in practice. I don’t pay attention to [the rumors]. All I want to do is get better every day. If I can get thrown out there, I’ll show what I can do but I’ll continue to cheer on my teammates and work hard.”

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Danilo Gallinari
didn’t have his usual sharpness or shooting legs in his return after missing six games with a sprained knee, but he scored 17 points. He took just 7 shots but got to the free-throw line (8 of 9). . . . Walsh said he has not given up on Kelenna Azubuike
playing this season.

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Suns coach Alvin Gentry
started his pregame press conference with a joke, referencing Jets coach Rex Ryan
, and saying the upcoming matchup was a personal battle between him and his former boss, D’Antoni.