For a second it sounded like team president Donnie Walsh might have dropped a hint about his future last night when he told a group of reporters, “You’ll be here with someone else next year.”
But Walsh wasn’t talking about his uncertain job status as the Knicks team president, but rather the annual arrival of the trade deadline and all the rumors and speculation that come with it.
Carmelo Anthony remained the 800-pound gorilla at the Garden last night where the Knicks beat the Hawks 102-90 in their final game before the All-Star break and eight days before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
Without mentioning Anthony directly, Walsh before the game held court for 11 minutes, during which he essentially said he is as much concerned about the Knicks’ future as their present.
“There are big names in the trade [mill] now and there will be down the road,” he said. “You’ll be here with someone else next year. It’s a matter of keeping yourself in the right position.”
Walsh has a better poker face than Lady Gaga, so there was no hint whether he’s any more eager to deal for Anthony now that the Nets are back in play. But he did admit all the chatter about a possible trade has overshadowed the many strides the Knicks have made this season as they head into the All-Star break. They improved to 28-26 with last night’s triumph, one short of last year’s total of 29 wins.
“I think that’s an accomplishment for a team that just came together and for [being] just under 25 years [old] on average,” Walsh said. “I think they’ve done all right. More important is what it means to the future of the franchise. I feel good about that.”
Walsh mentioned the future so often it sounded like he was preparing Knicks fans for a future without Anthony. A league source debriefed on the Anthony negotiations told The Post that Denver asked for Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and a first-round pick (obtained via Anthony Randolph) for Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups.
It’s a price that’s too high for Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni.
Nevertheless, the Knicks should do everything within reason to get Anthony because he is one of the top five players in the league and, alongside Amar’e Stoudemire, gives the Knicks a championship foundation. Billups is no slouch either.
Still it’s unnerving to hear owner James Dolan might be listening more to Isiah Thomas than he is to Walsh and D’Antoni, and might make the deal on his own. This should be Walsh’s call, considering his legacy with the Knicks is on the line.
That Walsh is in position to bid for Anthony should earn him a contract extension considering the black hole he dug the franchise out of. But if he actually can acquire Anthony and the Knicks go on to win a championship Walsh could earn his own spot in the rafters. Conversely, should Anthony go to the Nets and the Knicks remain mediocre next year and the year after, this lost chance will be a stain on Walsh’s tenure here.
Walsh seemed unconcerned about all that as he spoke in glowing terms about his current roster.
“What I like about this team is it’s a very young team,” he said. “This isn’t a team we’re saying they’re going to be what they are today. A lot of these guys will develop and be better players than they are today.
“We’re looking at today because it’s the first year of trying to rebuild the team, and we’re looking at where it leaves us tomorrow,” he said. “Those are important things.”
The Knicks love Gallinari, who scored 17 last night, and Fields, who added 11 points and nine rebounds. Chandler (20 points) has continued to improve his consistency. Felton (13 points, 11 assists) has solidified the point guard position. But none of them will ever be as good as Carmelo Anthony.
That’s what Walsh must consider.
george.willis@nypost.com