NBA

Lakers in talks to swipe Anthony from Knicks

The Lakers don’t come to the Garden until Friday, but they’ve already thrown a scare into the Knicks.

The Lakers emerged as a possible contender for Carmelo Anthony, but Knicks owner James Dolan has as much chance of parading around the Garden in a purple-and-gold wig as he does watching Anthony suit up alongside Kobe Bryant on Friday.

An ESPN.com report that had star-in-the-making center Andrew Bynum as the crux of the Lakers’ pitch was shot down quickly, but a Lakers official did not deny GM Mitch Kupchak talked with Denver brass.

As much as the Knicks sit in the driver’s seat, the Lakers probably represent the lone team that could trade for ’Melo and get him to sign a contract extension — because of their spectacular winning tradition, Hollywood venue and status as two-time defending champions. Anthony’s celebrity wife is even named Lala.

The report said the Lakers had only preliminary talks with the Nuggets, claiming to have dangled Bynum — which would easily trump the Knicks’ Wilson Chandler package.

However, a subsequent report said Bynum is not on the table, as he is a favorite of the Buss family, which owns the Lakers. An NBA source familiar with Denver’s trade talks said a deal without Bynum seemed improbable and the leak appeared to be a way of scaring Knicks president Donnie Walsh into raising his offer.

One league executive said, “A lot of GMs believe ’Melo’s agent (Leon Rose) is trying to make the Knicks believe a deal could get done with the Lakers to get the Knicks to give more.”

Meanwhile, a Lakers official was quoted as telling the L.A. Times, “What’s out there is inaccurate.”

The Nuggets have sought young prospects, cap space and a first-round draft pick in any Anthony deal. Bynum, a budding star, doesn’t fit any of the criteria.

The three-team package with the Knicks and T’wolves would give Denver all three, though Chandler, who has had chronic injury issues, is not nearly as highly regarded as the Nets’ Derrick Favors, whom they nearly obtained for ’Melo on two occasions.

In the proposal, the Knicks would also give up Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry’s expiring contract. The Post has reported rookie Andy Rautins and Kelenna Azubuike’s expiring pact may have to be included.

Denver wants more, but Walsh knows he can wait and get Anthony as a free agent this summer. The Knicks and Wolves were in the dark yesterday on whether the Nuggets will accept the offer by the Feb. 24 deadline.

Denver would receive Chandler, Minnesota’s Corey Brewer, a first-round pick and possibly Rautins. (Randolph and Curry missed yesterday’s practice for personal reasons.)

Aside from the Lakers, the Knicks’ bigger fear is Dallas trading for Anthony as a rental. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban treats his players like gold and is a terrific salesman.

Dolan is not quite the salesman, but he has the deep pockets and an urgency to get ‘Melo before the trade deadline. Dolan’s phone call to Denver ownership represents that urgency, but not necessarily Denver’s urgency. “I think Dolan thinks he’s Steinbrenner now,” said a league source.

One source said Dolan made a phone call to Denver, but a person with knowledge of the situation said Dolan probably did not talk to owner Stan Kroenke but to his son, Josh Kroenke, whose title is governor and is handling the trade talks. Stan Kroenke also has a stake in the St. Louis Rams and is forbidden from handling such discussions, according to a source.

Yesterday, Walsh avoided the media and scurried toward the locker-room exit when reporters were let in toward the end of practice. Walsh usually sits courtside until practice is over.

Amar’e Stoudemire said the ’Melo trade talk has not hurt their focus.

“Yeah, we’re doing great,” Stoudemire said. “We’re focusing on when the game’s at hand, we’re practicing harder and continuing to try and get better as a unit. I think those trade rumors are not really affecting us much. You always wonder what’s going on, but you can’t let that affect your game and affect your professionalism.”

marc.berman@nypost.com