CHICAGO — Knicks president Donnie Walsh’s past two days have been a tale of two Currys — one player too heavy, one too light. But right now, Walsh is ecstatic about both Currys — Eddy and Stephen.
Before settling into Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine, Walsh took a side trip to Detroit on Wednesday to visit Knicks center Eddy Curry, and gave Curry high marks after watching him work out. The 7-foot, 300-plus Curry is on a rigorous summer weight-loss program in the Motor City, training at Oakland University to save his career.
Yesterday, Walsh was in Chicago for the combine, watching leading Knicks draft candidate Stephen Curry — and 50 other potential first-round wannabes — perform drills and take physicals. The explosive Curry had a 30-minute interview last night with Knicks brass — Walsh, Allan Houston, coach Mike D’Antoni and senior vice president Glen Grunwald.
Curry repeated his strong desire to be a Knick and will work out at their Westchester compound around June 9. North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson told The Post he and his buddy Curry are planning to work out for the Knicks as a tandem.
“There’s lot of talk about New York and that situation being the most ideal,” Curry said. “They need a point guard who can shoot. And that offense is just for me. They like to play up and down. That’s how I played all my life. Right now it looks fun to me.”
Walsh has scheduled a host of interviews with lottery prospects and even met Wednesday night with 7-foot-3 shotblocker Hasheem Thabeet, who’s not in the Knicks range at 8, but would be their target if Walsh moves up.
A source said Walsh loves Thabeet, projected to go No. 3, because the Knicks were last in block shots the past two years. The way the top three shook out, a source said the Knicks feel there’s potential for the former UConn star to fall if Memphis takes Ricky Rubio at 2.
The Combine buzz is Oklahoma City, selecting third, also is very interested in Stephen Curry and has scouted him furiously.
“Like they had season tickets,” Curry said.
Perhaps the Thunder could be a Knicks partner looking to trade down.
“They were very interested,” said a somewhat surprised Thabeet, who added the Knicks did not broach the subject of trading up.
Walsh, meanwhile, is trying to muster interest with his current center who played in just three games last season because of a bad knee caused by his hefty figure.
“He’s working very hard and it’s working,” Walsh told The Post. “He’s starting to develop muscles in his shoulders, neck. You see his body changing. If he keeps this up through the summer, he can be successful. He’s got a good team of people around him, encouraging him to work.”
The Knicks hope Eddy Curry loses at least 30 pounds, but Walsh refused to reveal how much he’s dropped. The other Curry, Stephen, can afford to put on a few pounds. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound sharpshooter who led the NCAA in scoring has that knock against him — his slight build potentially rendering him guardable in the NBA.
Curry said the criticism he’s too small is bogus.
“Three inches shorter, 20 pounds lighter coming out of high school,” Curry said. “I’ve developed physically and held my own in college. It’s a whole knew ballgame in the NBA, but I have a lot of room to develop physically. I haven’t had the resources to follow a certain strength program that’s basketball specific. So I think, with my work ethic, I’ll be fine.”
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The Knicks think the world of USC shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, who compared his jumping ability with Vince Carter’s, but are unsure he’ll drop to 8. Washington is eyeing him at 5. . . . North Carolina stalwart Tyler Hansbrough said he believes he’s the next David Lee, who dropped to No. 30 in the 2006 NBA Draft. “That’s who I compare myself to, a rebounder, an energy player, a Missouri guy,” said Hansbrough, who expects to be picked higher than 30.
Walsh met with Chicago-based agent Mark Bartlestein in the hotel lobby yesterday. Both were quick to point out that “it’s about the draft.” Bartlestein, Lee’s rep, and the Knicks aren’t permitted to discuss his free agency until July 1.