NBA

High-flier White looking to stick with the Knicks

LAS VEGAS — James White isn’t trying to win the NBA Slam-Dunk contest as much as he’s trying to win playing time as a Knicks swingman. Even more minutes might become available if the team doesn’t match Landry Fields’ offer sheet by Saturday.

The former 6-foot-7 Cincinnati high-flier, who has played the last three seasons in Europe, will make his Knicks debut on the summer-league team Saturday when they face the Grizzlies at UNLV’s COX Pavilion.

“I’m going to make the most of it,’’ White said. “Jeremy Lin last year took the opportunity and made the most of it. It comes with hard work.’’

White, the first pick of the second round in 2006, has played 10 career NBA games with the Spurs (six games in 2006-07) and the Rockets (four games in 2008-09) before going overseas to Russia for one season and the Italian League for two.

“I’m a lot better, a lot stronger,’’ White said yesterday before practice. “My all-around game is a lot better than it was from my rookie year. A lot of things of my game get overlooked because everyone looks at YouTube and the dunking. I’m an all-around player. You’ll see in the long run and I’m an all-around good player and not just a dunker.’’

Yeah, but you still have to see that YouTube-video dunk — his head elevating well over the rim, his armpit at rim level.

With eventual starting shooting guard Iman Shumpert probably out until January and the chances of the Knicks matching Fields’ three-year, $19 million Raptors’ offer sheet looking bleak, White may begin as a key piece in the rotation.

“Teams didn’t like what they saw,’’ said coach Mike Woodson, in Las Vegas with the Knicks’ summer-league team. “We brought him in and we liked some of the things he brought to the table. Being able to defend the 2-3 position, he can score a little bit. He’s an athletic player who can get up and down the floor. It’s a matter of him learning the NBA game and finding his niche.”

Woodson seems to have distanced himself from Fields. According to an NBA source, the moment free agency began, the Knicks never made Fields an offer and were more interested in thrusting him into sign-and- trades — with Phoenix, Dallas and others.

Asked about matching Fields’ offer sheet from Toronto, Woodson said, “As it stands right now, it’s about the guys we’ve already made the commitment to and get them where they need to be.’’

General manager Glen Grunwald was more diplomatic.

“We haven’t reached any decision,’’ Grunwald said, adding the club was looking at “what other alternatives might be available to us.’’

The Knicks believe Fields is at his best in the up-tempo attack former coach Mike D’Antoni employed, and his outside shot isn’t getting better. It may be time for Spike Lee to retire Fields’ No. 6 jersey and perhaps don the No. 4 — which White will wear. It’s also the number Nate Robinson, a former dunk champ, wore.

If White sticks with the Knicks, would he vie for the dunk title All-Star weekend?

“That would definitely be great, but that has lot to do with getting playing time and getting the opportunity to be seen,’’ White said. “A lot of people know me as a dunker and a lot of people are asking me to do it. That’s up to the league though.’’

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The Knicks are expected to receive Lin’s signed offer sheet with the Rockets so they can match it.

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Woodson will head to the London Olympics to see Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony and will get a special bonus in seeing point guard Pablo Prigioni, who plays for the Argentine Olympic Team and who signed with the Knicks Wednesday.

“I thought he had a great workout for us,’’ Woodson said. “The young man can do a lot of things, running the position. That’s why he’s been one of the top point guards in the European League.’’

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Woodson said Steve Novak had a stomach procedure after the season and hasn’t been able to practice until now. Woodson said Novak was “sick’’ at season’s end.

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Former Manhattan College/Seton Hall coach, Bobby Gonzalez is working as assistant with Knicks summer league team.