Hopefully, nobody halfway coherent honestly believes Donnie Walsh’s hiring of former Nuggets VP Mark Warkentien as a glorified scout for the remainder of this season will help the Knicks in any way, shape or deformity of getting Carmelo Anthony.
For those who do buy into that theory and disbelieve Walsh’s contention (and mine) to the contrary, allow me to remind you the Nuggets control what team ’Melo represents for the next 32 games.
What’s more, ’Melo has made it exceedingly clear (privately) to one and all from the git-go that the Knicks are his first choice. So, should he chose to become a free agent this summer, please don’t insult our common sense by telling us Warkentien — if even still employed by the Knicks — had anything to do with New York signing him.
Meanwhile, back on the court, perhaps the Knicks should’ve been fined for not conducting nearly enough illicit workouts.
Not at sea level since the 18th game of the season, the Mike D’Antoni trey-servers are in danger of meshing with mediocrity should they lose today’s High Nooner with the Sixers at the Sexual Harassment Hacienda.
Nine Knicks’ losses in their last dozen outings — including Friday night’s gettable game in Philadelphia — have altogether agitated the ambiance.
It’s almost like the “statement win” against Miami never happened . . . but more about that on the next edition of “The Mike D’Antoni Show.”
The stat of the NBA’s 12-game slate Friday night: Andre Iguodala’s 16 assists.
Naturally, Madison Square Garden’s postgame interviewer whose nightly questioning is so sophomorically scrawny she doesn’t even deserve dishonorable mention in this space, did not ask the small forward anything about his staggering career high achievement.
Too bad; it might’ve alerted permanently unimpressive studio co-host Kelly Tripucka to Iguodala exceeding his season assist average by 10.1.
* My reaction to the tenth showing of Blake Griffin’s mid-air collision with the Hawks’ Al Horford was no different than when I saw it live; it was not remotely close to being a Flagrant 1 foul, as the referees appraised.
Coming off a perfectly planned play by Larry Drew during a timeout with four seconds left on the game clock, Hawks down one to the Clippers, Horford faked a hand-off to Joe Johnson, the inbounds passer, and darted to daylight for a dunk. Griffin came fast from the left side and met Horford with at the top of the stairway to the stars.
Both of Griffin’s arms were extended toward the ball, which he almost blocked. The force of their entangled arms resulted in Horford crashing to the floor on his back.
It was a horrifying fall. Yet Griffin did nothing wrong other than commit a foul. I’ll be horrified if the league doesn’t rescind his flagrant.
To Horford’s everlasting credit, he slowly got up several minutes later and converted both free throws for the victory.
* I won’t believe the Nets-Nuggets negotiating re: Carmelo Anthony are though until the Feb. 24 trade deadline expires, the Russians return their ‘72 gold medals that belong to Doug Collins, Kevin Joyce & Co, or I read it in Pravda.
* Brook Lopez has one double figure rebounding game this season (10), in defeat vs. the Kings on Nov. 19. . . .
If I’m the Lakers, I offer the Nuggets Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest for ‘Melo. I’m not saying they’ll take it, I’m saying that’s what I’d do if I were the Lakers.
* If the 2006 draft was a do-over, Rajon Rondo would be the pick of the litter. . . .
Just when the Celtics were about to be given an automatic bye to The Finals, the Mavericks scored Friday’s last 10 points to vanquish them in Boston.
“It was a shot to the groin,” Kevin Garnett said.
Earlier this season, Dallas ran off a dozen wins in succession and rolled into Charlotte last night having won seven straight.
* Not to suggest Mark Cuban is getting too giddy, but he’s now offering to buy into the Mets and Obama’s domestic agenda. . . .
For those who might be suffering from Gilbert Arenas withdrawal, our hero was served with child support papers heading into halftime Thursday night
The summons claims Arenas has been negligent in providing for three children — plus one in the oven — Arenas had/is having with the plaintiff, who is asking for $109,000 and $1.3 million annually.
“He’s raised the bar for the rest of us,” Antonio Cromartie said.
* This just in: Frank (3-0) Vogel said he’d evaluate Larry Bird at end of the season. . . .
The Cavaliers hosted Portland last night looking to end a 23-game national nightmare.
That’s the bad news. The good news is, according to Dan Gilbert’s latest open letter, the Cavs are on pace to win a title before the Floridians.
On the other hand, the Raptors ended their own 13-game misery Friday night against the Wolverines who, sources say are suddenly shopping 2009 (No. 6) June swoon, Jonny Flynn; Sebastian Telfair has been available for months. . . .
After the game, Kevin Love gave his gratitude to the one billion Chinese who selected him as an All-Star injury replacement. . . .
Column castigator Frank Drucker refuses to invest his Super Bowl wagers until he finishes watching game films with Tim Donaghy.
peter.vecsey@nypost.com