NBA

Knicks can go several directions at 24

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There are the safe choices of Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr., Cal guard Allen Crabbe and North Carolina small forward Reggie Bullock — if they fall to the 24th pick.

Then there’s the riskier selections — shooting guard Ricky Ledo, who didn’t play a college game, and combo forward Tony Mitchell, who struggled last season at small-school North Texas but is regarded as the “best athlete in the draft.’’ They may be too green to make an impact in the 2013-14 season, but have great upside for the future.

But is the future now? Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald faces a monumental decision tonight on draft night because of a fluid roster that could conceivably lose three key free agents — J.R. Smith, Chris Copeland and Pablo Prigioni.

The buzzword in the Knicks’ war room has been “perimeter help’’ with the organization’s decision to make Carmelo Anthony the power forward of the future.

As much as the Knicks need a backup point guard with Jason Kidd’s retirement and Prigioni’s uncertain status, Grunwald may need to plug a hole tonight with the 24th pick at the small-forward position. (Iman Shumpert started there last season when the Knicks went with two point guards.)

When asked about the Knicks’ standing, ESPN draft analyst Jay Bilas said, “There are a lot of good values down into the 20s. I don’t subscribe [to the theory] this is a weak draft.’’

James Dolan’s club is focused on competing for a championship next year. People with knowledge of the situation feel the club needs extra scoring punch at the perimeter after folding in the playoffs and can address in free agency its big-man issues that surfaced versus the Pacers.

A LOOK BACK AT KNICKS DRAFT PICKS

The lack of point guards (Shane Larkin likely will be gone, Isaiah Canaan not a good enough playmaker) in the 24-range may lead the Knicks to take a shooting guard/small forward. South Dakota State’s play-making Nate Wolters is the one point guard of intrigue who should be on the board, but he would be a defensive liability.

Hardaway Jr., Bullock and Crabbe are sound picks and the Knicks like all three. Hardaway, whose father played 13 seasons in the NBA, is a can’t-miss pro after leading Michigan to the NCAA title game and the Knicks need to improve their role-playing core.

“Hardaway already has an NBA professional mentality,’’ ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla said. “He has a professional mindset, a high-character kid and well-coached at Michigan. The ceiling, though, is not great. I don’t see an All-Star career. A long-time rotation guy, very good shooter, not a great passer. But he’s solid and low risk.’’

Do the Knicks need to take a chance, considering the Heat, Bulls and Pacers may be a step ahead of them in the East? If they do, meet Ledo, the 6-foot-6 combo guard who never played a game at Providence because of academic issues. Ledo said his best workout was with the Knicks and he’s heading to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center tonight for the festivities.

“He shot the you-know-what out of the ball and he also passed well,’’ his agent Seth Cohen said of the Knicks workout. “If he played a few games in college, he’d be in the lottery. I think what he showed the Knicks is he could play some point guard, too.’’

The other intriguing option is Mitchell, a 6-foot-9 small forward/power forward who could fit well with Anthony as a forward tandem, except he’s not a traditional scorer in any sense. A report on Hoopsworld.com said if he drops to 24, the Knicks are tempted.

“I’m sure I can bring excitement with my athleticism, just dunking the ball, blocking the shots, rebounding, defending,’’ Mitchell said after his Knicks workout.

Bullock is a strong 3-point shooter and decent defender. Crabbe is one of the top marksmen in the draft, but not a Mike Woodson-like defender.

“From the coaches I talked to, he played defense in a tuxedo,’’ Fraschilla said of Crabbe.

Grunwald won’t be in a tuxedo tonight, but he will have all the pressure squarely on him.

marc.berman@nypost.com