NBA

ISIAH REKINDLES FAITH IN CURRY, RANDOLPH

Maybe advertising his big men can help Isiah Thomas trade one of them.

With the Knicks’ disastrous season set to resume tonight at Washington, Thomas spent part of yesterday praising the skill, youth and potential of both Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph. The trade deadline is on Thursday, and Thomas apparently believed in pumping up Curry’s and Randolph’s value.

After losing to the Celtics last Wednesday, Thomas seemingly buried Curry, surprisingly saying there is “a slow phasing out of the big man in this league.”

Yesterday, Thomas gushed about Curry and Randolph, saying he doesn’t expect any substantial deals for his team – even though Knicks senior VP Glen Grunwald has been busy trying to be active.

“I keep looking at our guys, and for as much talk as there has been about Eddy and Zach, they’re still 25 and 26 [years old],” Thomas said. “And there’s a lot of good basketball left for them to play. While we’re in a bad spot, you don’t want to make it worse.”

Added Thomas, “They’re good players. Even though we haven’t played well, I know Eddy is a much better player than he’s shown thus far, and Zach has played well for us.”

The 6-9 Randolph is averaging decent numbers (17 points, 10 rebounds) but he’s been inconsistent and has done little defensively. Curry, at 6-11, has been worse. He’s averaging just 13.7 points, compared to last year’s 19.5, and his rebounding and field goal percentage are also down. But Thomas insisted he didn’t want to abandon the tandem even though he admitted Randolph’s presence might be why Curry is underperforming.

“That’s possible,” he said. “However, you’re not just willing to throw it away just yet. Again, they’re 25 and they’re 26.”

Thomas also said he believes that a strong point guard might be able to extract more from Curry and Randolph – a dig at the injured Stephon Marbury.

As for Thomas’ claims about the “phasing out of the big man in this league,” it seems odd, considering that of the last nine NBA champs, eight featured Tim Duncan or Shaquille O’Neal. Meanwhile, the last four top picks in the draft have been at least 6-11 – Greg Oden, Andrea Bargnani, Andrew Bogut and Dwight Howard.

Regardless, Randolph said that Thomas “said we’re sticking with what we got,” and Thomas said that “as we presently sit, I don’t foresee any major thing happening.”

Still, he added, “But that being said, who knows what some other team’s thinking?”

Thomas even said that if the Nets move Jason Kidd, the Knicks are one of multiple teams that could still make the playoffs. The Knicks are 7½ games back of the final spot.

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Marbury began his rehab yesterday, approximately a month after having surgery on his left ankle. The Post has previously reported he is done for the year . . . Although he’s an esteemed Indiana University alum, Thomas said he wouldn’t be interested in coaching there if Kelvin Sampson gets fired. “No, I’m very anchored here,” he said.

mark.hale@nypost.com