NBA

Knicks may be hawkish on Johnson

Joe Johnson could be the Knicks’ consolation prize if things don’t work out with LeBron James.

And after Johnson’s season ended brutally with the Hawks Monday night in Atlanta after a humiliating four-game sweep against the Magic, the Knicks will have a great shot at landing Johnson, perhaps at even a cheaper price than they budgeted.

Johnson, a four-time All-Star shooting guard whom Mike D’Antoni adores from their days together in Phoenix, hurt his stock during the playoffs and perhaps irreparably damaged his relationship with Hawks fans by some ill-timed remarks.

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As Johnson walked off the court, perhaps for the final time in a Hawks uniform with 3:51 left Monday night, the Atlanta crowd booed him all the way to the bench.

“It don’t bother me,” Johnson said afterward. “I’ve got thick skin.”

On trash-bag day yesterday, Johnson left without talking to reporters. But after the game, he gave a cryptic remark about why he had such a disastrous playoffs, shooting 38 percent.

“[It’s] a number of things I’d rather not talk about,” he said. “Like I said, no excuses.”

Johnson was non-committal about his future, saying he hasn’t yet given it his full attention.

“I will take some time off, clear my head and spend some time with my family,” Johnson said. “I am sure I will sit down with my agent in the next couple weeks and see what’s out there.”

Super agent Arn Tellem would like nothing more than seeing Johnson head to New York. Johnson is probably the most obscure four-time All-Star in the NBA and being on the big stage would do wonders.

Plus, Tellem is the agent for Danilo Gallinari and a longtime friend of Donnie Walsh’s. Tellem already orchestrated the Tracy McGrady trade.

Despite being Third-Team All-NBA, Johnson may have played himself out of a maximum contract if the Hawks don’t commit. He was 5-for-15 in the series clincher after going 3-for-15 in Saturday’s loss.

Johnson was booed Saturday for his poor play, then ticked off the home fans afterward by saying, “That doesn’t bother me, and I hope it doesn’t bother anyone in this locker room. It’s about us in this locker room. We could care less if [fans] showed up.”

If the Knicks add Johnson, perhaps for slightly less than the max, they know they’d need a lot more help and would need to be strategic regarding David Lee.

Conceivably, if they don’t renounce Lee’s rights, they could sign Johnson, two mid-range free agents such as Kyle Korver and center Jermaine O’Neal, and still re-sign Lee for whatever he wants.

Lee’s contract would be allowed to surge over the salary cap if the other prior signings get them equal to the cap, factoring in Lee’s $10 million cap hold.

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James will sign with the Knicks this offseason, says Buzz Bissinger, who co-authored a book with James about his Ohio high school team.

“I am not privy to any special information, but my gut tells me he will leave the Cavaliers whether they win the NBA championship or not,” Bissinger told HoopsAddict.com.

marc.berman@nypost.com