NEW ORLEANS — If the Knicks are to have the best chance at landing Chris Paul in 2012, they may want to consider keeping Mike D’Antoni around.
Paul, who faces the Knicks tonight at New Orleans Arena for the first time since his infamous champagne toast at Carmelo Anthony’s wedding in July, heaped unsolicited praise on the Knicks coach, saying he is “a huge fan.”
It may mean nothing. In 2012, it may mean everything. Paul becomes a free agent then. Knicks president Donnie Walsh purposely signed point guard Raymond Felton to only a two-year contract to make sure they have 2012 cap space for the Hornets’ superstar point guard.
Paul was asked innocently after Hornets’ practice about tonight’s Knicks game.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” Paul said. “I’m a huge fan of Coach D’Antoni’s, and he really has those guys going right now. And any time you have a personality like Amar’e [Stoudemire] on your team and Raymond running your show, you’re going to be tough.”
Paul, as reported in The Post, gave a toast during Anthony’s Manhattan wedding reception to one day forming a “our own big three” in New York with Stoudemire and Anthony. Yesterday, Paul was asked by The Post if he regrets the toast.
“I don’t regret anything during the summer,” he said. “Everything that happens makes you stronger. Now I’m just happy to be on a great team that’s playing really well.”
In Sports Illustrated last week, Paul downplayed the toast, saying, “We were there having a good time. You’re joking around; all different types of stuff is said.”
Indeed, Paul is definitely a happy man — for now. At least he’s much happier than this past summer when he said if New Orleans isn’t committed to winning, “I’m open to being traded.”
Last night, the Hornets staged their holiday party and Paul was more apt to toast the Big Easy than the Big Apple.
“The summer is over,” Paul said. “I’m just so happy it’s the season now. We don’t have to worry about [the speculation] anymore. It’s all about the next game.
“We’re playing. We’re in-season. I don’t think about anything, but trying to stop Raymond Felton and Amar’e in that pick and roll [today].”
Still, Paul keeps in touch with his buddy Stoudemire.
“Every now and then we talk,” Paul said. “Most definitely [he’s happy]. Especially whenever you can reconnect with a coach like that, especially Coach D’Antoni.
“I’m sure Amare’s happy. Those guys are playing well. Amare’s one of those guys who’s going to play hard. That’s what I love about him. He’s just always going to compete and his game keeps getting better each year.”
Stoudemire will be around five years. D’Antoni’s contract expires after the 2011-12 season. With the Knicks at 10-9 — first time over .500 this late in the season since 2004-05 — D’Antoni could be offered a contract extension before the season is up if they continue winning.
As much as Paul is a big fan of D’Antoni, having played under him on the 2008 Olympic gold-medal-winning team, he’s also a big fan of Hornets rookie coach Monty Williams.
New Orleans got off to its best start in franchise history with an 11-1 mark. The Hornets have dipped since to 13-5, but there’s no chance they will trade Paul this season.
Knicks fans may want to root for the Hornets to flounder. The Hornets’ attendance still is, ranked 25th in the NBA after drawing 10,866 Wednesday — their lowest since 2008.
Team owner George Shinn is still trying to complete a sale.
“Even when we were 9-0, we kept saying if it was football season, it would look really good, but 82 games, 9-0 is nothing,” Paul said.
Williams, a former Knicks first-round pick, and Paul have hit it off. Paul has adapted to Williams’ San Antonio-style system after the Hornets’ old Princeton offense initially installed by Byron Scott was scrapped.
“If he’s changed, he’s involving guys more and managing games better than he did in the past,” Williams said. “He bought into my ideas. I’ve meshed mine with his. I think we make a fairly good team. We’re building trust. He’s a once in a lifetime point guard and I don’t want to mess with it.”
The Hornets’ new team president, Dell Demps has made Paul believe in the franchise’s diligence to make moves to win.
Demps, a former Knicks personnel director, traded for Trevor Ariza in the offseason and the Hornets’ defense has improve. Ariza is the lockdown defender on the opponents’ best player. Last month, Demps traded for Knicks-killing point guard Jarrett Jack to be Paul’s backup.
And for now, Paul declines to elaborate on his 2012 future or Anthony’s.
“I ain’t talking about that,” Paul said. “I have no clue. All I can do is worry about Chris Paul’s future and right now my future is to shower and pick up my son from school.”