NBA

Kidd out of Knicks’ starting role & back on point

WASHINGTON — Knicks coach Mike Woodson finally pulled the trigger and benched ice cold Jason Kidd for last night’s 96-88 victory over the Wizards.

Kidd moved from starting shooting guard to backup point guard and the switch could be permanent. Kidd said he and Woodson discussed the move two days ago.

“Coach and I talked about it — whatever the coach needs me to do,’’ Kidd said. “Maybe it will put the ball in my hands a little more and see what happens. I try to make plays for other guys and do the little things. That’s what I do.’’

James White, known as a defender, was inserted into the starting lineup at small forward, and the timing is no coincidence. White was brushing up to face LeBron James of the Heat tomorrow at the Garden. White, in a limited role, handled James nicely in the teams’ most recent meeting, in Miami in December when Carmelo Anthony was injured. White played just 10:12 last night and didn’t score. Kidd came off the bench for 28 minutes and looked more spry, despite a 2-for-6 shooting ledger. He had four points, five assists and three rebounds.

“Just going in a different direction,’’ Woodson said. “Nothing against Kidd. He’s still going to play, and he’ll get in there with the second unit. Just changing it up a little bit. He’s a point guard, and I’ve got to put him in a position to be more successful. I don’t think I’ve done a good job in that area.”

Kidd’s offense has flat-lined since late December. The move broke up the Kidd-Raymond Felton-Iman Shumpert trio that had been in place for 16 games, since Jan. 17 in London, but didn’t wow anyone.

Woodson wouldn’t commit to the rest of the season, but he said this is it for the time being.

“I want [Kidd] more with the ball in his hands to run this team,’’ Woodson said. “It’s what he’s done his whole career.’’

The 39-year-old Kidd has been a horror show on the offensive end. He was scoreless Wednesday against the Warriors, going 0 for 4. He has been scoreless in three of the previous five games, scoring nine points total. He has back issues, but has denied using it as an excuse. Kidd will turn 40 later this month and has two years left on his pact.

The move has potentially removed point guard Pablo Prigioni from the rotation. He did not play last night, though Woodson said he will try to squeeze him in.

White said he’s fine with his vastly different role — from cheerleader to starter.

“I’m used to it,’’ White said. “It’s about staying ready the whole time. You never know when you’ll get the call out there and play.

“I know what he wants me to do. He wants me to go out there and play defense. Whatever else I can do he’ll be happy with it. But he needs someone to go out there and play defense right now.”

* Backup center Marcus Camby said he expects to be a go for tomorrow’s game, saying it was the plan all along. Woodson said Camby wasn’t quite ready to play last night. Camby has been out since Jan. 10 with a strained plantar fascia in his left foot.

“It feels a whole lot better than it had,’ Camby said. “I feel ready to get out there [tomorrow].’’